Dooley was sacked for gross misconduct following a 15-hour hearing by union officials who upheld claims that he had falsified forms for new members.

But supporters of Dooley claim the charges were used as a way of silencing him after he raised concerns about the general secretary election won by Alan Ritchie in 2009.

Dooley claimed that only 50% of Ucatt´s 130,000 members received ballot papers during the election which he lost by 2,000 votes.

Dooley has been at permanent loggerheads with Ritchie and the Ucatt leadership since the election and his concerns over the leadership contest have led to an investigation by ombudsman at the Certification Office.

Dooley is a trained lawyer and has also launched a tribunal case against Ucatt claiming victimisation by the union for not inviting him to a Christmas Party.

A Ucattspokesperson, said: “We can confirm that Mr Dooley has been dismissed for gross misconduct. Mr Dooley has the right to appeal and therefore it would be inappropriate to make any further comment.”

Dooley declined to comment but a union source said: “They’ve tried to throw all they can at Mick but he won’t go away.

“He’s determined to see a proper investigation into the election and find out why so few ballot papers went out.

“The charges he’s been had up on are a nonsense. No union officials’ sign-up papers are 100% accurate.”