Quote Originally Posted by BBC Sport
McLaren dismiss spy-case engineer



McLaren have dismissed the engineer at the heart of the spy scandal that ended with them fined £50m and thrown out of last year's constructors' championship.

Mike Coughlan was McLaren's chief designer when a 780-page document of confidential Ferrari technical information was found at his home.

The Englishman was suspended by the team last year but remained on the staff for legal reasons.

A McLaren spokesman said: "The company has now terminated his employment."

BBC Sport understands Coughlan has apologised to motorsport's governing body the FIA and Ferrari, and has accepted a ban from the sport until July 2009.

Ferrari sacked performance director Nigel Stepney, who was accused of passing the information to Coughlan, last July.

Stepney has since admitted giving Ferrari data to Coughlan but denied that included the 780-page document.

Englishman Stepney has avoided being charged by motorsport governing body the FIA, but it has recommended teams do not employ him until 1 July 2009
5 simple words...

What took them so long?

He cost them all of that monet and around all of this time after the scandal and him being proven to be the heart of it he has still been in a job? Why the hell was he not fired on the spot?