Former USPCA chief launches legal proceedings against animal welfare charity
- Donal McMahon (Local Democracy Reporter)
- Mar 13
- 1 min read
Former USPCA chief executive Nora Smith
A former USPCA chief executive has launched legal proceedings against the animal welfare charity today (Thursday, March 13).
Nora Smith has taken the tribunal action following a workplace dispute with the Newry based organisation. She stepped down on 6 February 2025.
The County Down woman had been in the top post since January 2023.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) contacted the USPCA to ask if the charity had engaged with the Labour Relations Agency (LRA) as part of an early conciliation process.
A USPCA spokesperson said: “We don’t have any update on this.”
The USPCA had previously said: “We are currently in the process of recruiting a new chief executive and board members to lead us forward and build on our legacy as we write the next chapter of our 188-year history.”
The LDRS contacted Ms Smith’s legal representative, Peter Bowles for comment.
He said: “The USPCA refused to engage with early conciliation and therefore we have issued tribunal proceedings today.”