Yes, pre-brexit, 2012 if I recall.
To have the CPL issued by the UK CAA he would have needed to be examined by a UK CAA examiner or jumped through the following hoops with an IAA examiner. In short, easier just to get an IAA licence.
The Regulation 1178/2011, Part FCL, paragraph FCL.1005 says that the
EASA flight examiner shall carry out
skill tests,
proficiency checks or
assessments of competence of the candidate, whose license has been issued by the different competent authority than the competent authority of the
flight examiner if he:
- inform the competent (issuing) authority of the applicantīs license of his intention to conduct the skill test, proficiency check or assessment of competence
- inform the competent (issuing) authority of the applicantīs license about the scope of his flight examiner privileges;
- completed an instruction (briefing) from the competent (issuing) authority of the candidateīs license