EXPATRIATE civil servants challenging the Government's localisation policy were accused at the High Court yesterday of making irresponsible allegations which could seriously damage public confidence in the administration.
Adrian Huggins QC, launching the Government's response to claims of racial bias, called on the judge to reject the accusations.
'We urge your Lordship not to allow the unsavoury smell of such false and wholly unfounded allegations to linger on after the determination of these proceedings,' he added.
Mr Huggins said the Association of Expatriate Civil Servants and four officers had launched their legal battle in a blaze of publicity in October last year.
They had made outraged attacks on the Government accompanied by offensive and unfounded allegations using intemperate and abusive language, Mr Huggins claimed.
The applicants had accused some of the most senior and respected officers in the civil service of bad faith, improper motives and political double dealing, Mr Huggins said.
But their case as presented by barrister Philip Dykes during the first eight days of the hearing was significantly different in tone and content, he added.