Former IFA president Eddie Downey has mostly kept his counsel since the events that led to his resignation in November 2015, but it was inevitable that he would have his say following the conclusion of the legal action between the IFA and Pat Smith.
Had the case gone all the way to court, Downey would have been a crucial witness as to just what happened. Instead, the case was settled, bringing closure for Pat Smith, but with no mention of Eddie Downey, the other central player.
On Monday night, Downey addressed the Meath IFA AGM.
His frustration was palpable as he explained that he could not say all he wanted, could not recount just how events had unfolded in that frantic and chaotic week.
In 2015, Downey, in less than a week, went from receiving a unanimous vote of confidence from the IFA executive council on the day after Pat Smith’s resignation to being isolated to such a degree that he resigned himself. He felt that he had been “thrown under the bus”.
He felt that he had been “thrown under the bus”
On Monday, Downey made a powerful 18-minute speech, in front of his successor Joe Healy.
It must have been uncomfortable for the current IFA president at times, despite Healy having what was described by more than one speaker from the floor as “a clean pair of hands” in the events that led to Downey’s resignation.
Downey requested the opportunity from Healy to speak to the executive council of the IFA one more time. It would be in camera, and for the purposes of setting the record straight “so that at least one person in every county will know exactly what happened.”
“They may be bound not to speak, but I want them to know,” Downey said.
“The music stopped and I was holding the parcel,” Downey had opened, in an echo of the Irish Farmers Journal cartoon that appeared on the day he resigned. “The music has stopped again and I have no chair.”
Truth
“I thought that when it [the IFA/Pat Smith case] was settled, that I could come to you tonight and that I would put the truth to you. I can’t do that.”
“Legally I’m told I’m bound by the decision to settle this case”.
“It was my intention to say what happened when Pat Smith exited the organisation, name the players and the part they played.”
Downey particularly responded to a 2015 report by RTÉ, which quoted a source within IFA as stating that “Eddie Downey acted alone with Pat Smith”. Downey refuted this in the strongest possible terms.
“I acted on legal and financial advice with the support of national officers and in the best interests of the members,” the Meathman said.
“Settle this quickly, the first cost is the least, that was the advice I got and I followed it.”
Downey continued to refute media reports from that time.
Protest
“RTE reported that Eddie Downey signed the document under protest from the treasurer, the deputy president and the financial controller, in fact they tried to stop him,” Downey said.
“I did not do that, that did not happen,” Downey stated. “All I got that day was approval and support for my actions. In fact, in a meeting in my office afterwards, I was thanked and promised support for my actions."
Downey was critical of the Con Lucey report.
Tribute
Downey paid tribute outgoing Meath chairman and close friend Diarmuid Lally.
He also thanked his family.
“They have been rocks all through this, but they had the advantage of knowing what happened,” he said. “You people have been rocks through this and I still haven’t been able to tell you exactly what happened.”
Still frustrated. Perhaps if his request to address the executive council is granted, it will bring closure for Eddie Downey.
Read more
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Timeline: the IFA, Pat Smith and everything in between
How will Pat Smith's settlement affect IFA finances?
Former IFA president Eddie Downey has mostly kept his counsel since the events that led to his resignation in November 2015, but it was inevitable that he would have his say following the conclusion of the legal action between the IFA and Pat Smith.
Had the case gone all the way to court, Downey would have been a crucial witness as to just what happened. Instead, the case was settled, bringing closure for Pat Smith, but with no mention of Eddie Downey, the other central player.
On Monday night, Downey addressed the Meath IFA AGM.
His frustration was palpable as he explained that he could not say all he wanted, could not recount just how events had unfolded in that frantic and chaotic week.
In 2015, Downey, in less than a week, went from receiving a unanimous vote of confidence from the IFA executive council on the day after Pat Smith’s resignation to being isolated to such a degree that he resigned himself. He felt that he had been “thrown under the bus”.
He felt that he had been “thrown under the bus”
On Monday, Downey made a powerful 18-minute speech, in front of his successor Joe Healy.
It must have been uncomfortable for the current IFA president at times, despite Healy having what was described by more than one speaker from the floor as “a clean pair of hands” in the events that led to Downey’s resignation.
Downey requested the opportunity from Healy to speak to the executive council of the IFA one more time. It would be in camera, and for the purposes of setting the record straight “so that at least one person in every county will know exactly what happened.”
“They may be bound not to speak, but I want them to know,” Downey said.
“The music stopped and I was holding the parcel,” Downey had opened, in an echo of the Irish Farmers Journal cartoon that appeared on the day he resigned. “The music has stopped again and I have no chair.”
Truth
“I thought that when it [the IFA/Pat Smith case] was settled, that I could come to you tonight and that I would put the truth to you. I can’t do that.”
“Legally I’m told I’m bound by the decision to settle this case”.
“It was my intention to say what happened when Pat Smith exited the organisation, name the players and the part they played.”
Downey particularly responded to a 2015 report by RTÉ, which quoted a source within IFA as stating that “Eddie Downey acted alone with Pat Smith”. Downey refuted this in the strongest possible terms.
“I acted on legal and financial advice with the support of national officers and in the best interests of the members,” the Meathman said.
“Settle this quickly, the first cost is the least, that was the advice I got and I followed it.”
Downey continued to refute media reports from that time.
Protest
“RTE reported that Eddie Downey signed the document under protest from the treasurer, the deputy president and the financial controller, in fact they tried to stop him,” Downey said.
“I did not do that, that did not happen,” Downey stated. “All I got that day was approval and support for my actions. In fact, in a meeting in my office afterwards, I was thanked and promised support for my actions."
Downey was critical of the Con Lucey report.
Tribute
Downey paid tribute outgoing Meath chairman and close friend Diarmuid Lally.
He also thanked his family.
“They have been rocks all through this, but they had the advantage of knowing what happened,” he said. “You people have been rocks through this and I still haven’t been able to tell you exactly what happened.”
Still frustrated. Perhaps if his request to address the executive council is granted, it will bring closure for Eddie Downey.
Read more
IFA - Pat Smith settlement to cost €1.9m
Timeline: the IFA, Pat Smith and everything in between
How will Pat Smith's settlement affect IFA finances?
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