VIDEO: Ex-IFA boss Eddie Downey: I’ve been thrown under the bus

Speaking for the first time since he resigned as president of the IFA, Eddie Downey has said he only became aware of the full remuneration package that general secretary Pat Smith was receiving on November 19 and he acted on that information within hours.

Mr Downey last night told the Irish Examiner he had approval and did not act on his own when reaching a severance agreement with Mr Smith. He said he is speaking now “to put the record straight”, and he stands over all he has done.

He said he had “been thrown under the bus” at the 17-hour meeting of farmers last week and does not regret his decision to resign.