The former chief executive of an animal welfare charity has launched tribunal action against the charity following her resignation due to a workplace dispute, her solicitor has said.

Nora Smith resigned from her role as chief of the Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals on 6 February after more than two years in the role.

Smith opened legal proceedings against the charity last week.

Peter Bowles, Smith’s solicitor, said his firm had notified the Labour Relations Agency of the workplace dispute through the early conciliation process.

“The USPCA refused to engage with early conciliation and therefore we have issued tribunal proceedings,” he said.

The USPCA said it would not comment on any matters in relation to the departure of its former chief executive.

The charity previously confirmed four board members had left the USPCA in the past year and said it was in the process of recruiting a new chief executive and trustees.