SYCAMORE—State’s Attorney Michael Coghlan dismissed union demands for his resignation Thursday along with its request for an investigation by the Attorney General’s office.

The resignation stems from a ruling by the Illinois Labor Relations board that found State’s Attorney Michael Coghlan unjustly fired paralegal Donna Friel.

“There are 100 people in the jail everyday that call for my resignation. And I take this with the same seriousness.” Coghlan said he would appeal the decision, but declined to comment on whether he would lodge a counter suit.

But union attorney Thomas Edstrom claimed Coghlan’s defense in the case “was totally without merit” and illustrates why he does not deserve public office. “Mr. Coghlan betrayed the public trust and brought disgrace against the law enforcement community.”

The labor board ruled Coghlan fired Friel because of her activities with American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3537. Friel was the union president.

Coghlan maintains Friel was dismissed because she failed to adequately answer questions about her relationships with people suspected of drug use.

Friel’s relationships were questioned after Coghlan was told Friel might be a security threat to undercover officers working on drug stings.

According to testimony presented at the labor board hearing, Assistant State’s Attorney Chester Brough saw Friel try to listen through a small hole in an office an door where undercover agents routinely checked in with the State’s Attorney’s Office.

Edstrom hesitated when questioned about the eavesdropping at a press conference Thursday. Friel jumped in and said the accusation is an outright lie.

Other testimony alleges Friel continually questioned the identity of undercover agents.

Friel said she asked who one man was and did so out of pure

uriosity.

The labor board ruled Friel to return to work at the same or similar position and receive back pay with 7 percent interest. But she will not return during Coghlan’s appeal.

Friel was fired in September 1989. Her annual salary is about $12,000 a year, she said.

The sparks flew early at the news conference, when Steve

rossman, a spokesman for the AFSCME, refused to begin until Coghlan left the room.

When Coghlan refused, Trossman summoned hotel security.

“I’m assuming Mr. Coghlan will interrupt the news conference,” he explained.