Settlement of Pat Smith case
THE Irish Farmers’ Association has confirmed it has agreed to pay €1.9million in legal settlements to former general secretary Pat Smith.
Included is €1.55million related to the severance of his service in 2015, as well as €350,000 for defamation.
In a joint statement issued yesterday by the IFA and Mr Smith on foot of the settlement, the organisation said it accepted he was a highly effective, hardworking and dedicated executive who provided solid and professional leadership for farmers and the association.
The IFA added it accepted it made certain statements in the media at the time that were defamatory to Mr Smith and regretted the damage caused to his reputation.
Mr Smith was employed by the Irish Farmers’ Association for more than 26 years and was chief executive for nearly seven until his employment terminated Pat Smith by agreement in November 2015. His resignation came during a crisis over very high levels of pay at the top of the organisation that became public that month.
It was revealed Mr Smith had been paid a total of almost €3.5million over a period between 2009 and 2015.
The average annual amount he received in pay, pensions and bonuses amounted to €492,000.
The highest sum he received was €542,000 in 2013.
The fallout from the crisis at the IFA caused disquiet in farming circles.
It plunged the organisation into a crisis and resulted in the resignation of its then-president Eddie Downey.
The revelations also led to a significant loss in membership subscriptions from farmers all over the country, many of whom resigned in disgust at such high levels of pay.