IFA claim 'Pat Smith demanded €2m and is now trying to cover it up'

The former General secretary of the IFA says he wants the association to pay his multi-million euro severance package to charity.

Pat Smith has released a statement this evening to say he is disappointed he has left the Irish Farmers Association and wants them to honour his retirement deal.

However the IFA has hit back with their own statement calling the payment ' unapproved'.

They claim 'Pat Smith demanded €2m and is now trying to cover it up'.

They also maintain, 'he didn't "stand down". In effect, he was fired'.

Pat O'Toole of the Irish Farmers Journal says the IFA are determined to fight pat Smith's payment but it's unclear if that will work,

"They're saying that they reject this severance package and that they're going to fight that in court if necessary ."