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Former IFA president Eddie Downey said he resigned from his post three years ago for the "good of the organisation".
Downey said it was not Pat Smith’s remuneration package that led to his resignation but rather a feeling he could no longer trust those he worked with.
“I felt myself there were people I had to work with that I had no faith in, so I walked away,” he stated bluntly.
In a wide ranging interview on Louth Meath FM (LMFM) on Wednesday, Downey talked of his time both before and after scandal gripped the IFA in 2015.
Speaking on the Late Lunch with Gerry Kelly, Downey praised those who had worked hard to get him into the position of IFA president.
Reforms
He said all the items set out on his campaign leaflet were completed within his first year in the job and that he had begun a process to reform the organisation. It was a process he felt would have been completed if he had remained as IFA president.
Talking about the scandal that led to his departure, Downey said the IFA is highly political and that political information had been thrown to the media in an irresponsible fashion.
“Once that genie gets out it’s hard to put a lid on it … it wouldn’t have been a big deal in other similar organisations,” Downey said. Citing the political influence the IFA holds, Downey thought paying a decent wage to someone doing a job was “fair enough”.
Obligation
Discussing the remuneration package for Pat Smith, Downey said he had a job to do and was legally required to do so.
“It was correct and right but explaining that to members on the ground was difficult.”
Reflecting on his time as president, Downey spoke with pride about the land leasing scheme that he helped put in place. A major regret he raised was a succession programme that was unfinished at the time of his departure.
When asked about his thoughts on the IFA today he said he would like to see reforms in their communications. He said the IFA needed to use more direct methods to connect with members on the ground through phones and other modern technologies.
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