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RHI: Ulster Farmers' Union figures joined scheme shortly before payments capped

The UFU's Ian Marshall, Harry Sinclair and Barclay Bell. Picture by Cliff Donaldson
The UFU's Ian Marshall, Harry Sinclair and Barclay Bell. Picture by Cliff Donaldson The UFU's Ian Marshall, Harry Sinclair and Barclay Bell. Picture by Cliff Donaldson

SENIOR Ulster Farmers' Union figures involved in lobbying to delay RHI cost controls applied to the scandal-hit scheme just weeks before a cap was introduced.

Tom Forgrave, chairman of the Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU) poultry committee, has emerged as among the top beneficiaries with subsidies worth almost £750,000 from 10 boilers.

Applications for four were made in October 2015, shortly after ex-DUP enterprise minister Jonathan Bell announced plans to cap subsidies from November onwards.

The short period before the change saw a huge spike in RHI applications – making up almost half of all those who joined the scheme which launched in 2012.

Mr Forgrave was a founding member of the Renewable Heat Association NI (RHANI), a group representing RHI claimants which sought to prevent its members being publicly named.

He was also among senior UFU figures who urged Stormont officials in 2015 to delay cuts to Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) subsidies.

UFU has previously defended pressing for a "grace period", saying it would have been "unfair if the rules were changed before farmers could complete planned installations".

The new RHI list published by Stormont yesterday reveals the names of individuals benefitting from the green-energy scheme. A previous list released in March had detailed companies and organisations.

A public inquiry has been launched into RHI after it ran a projected £490m over budget.

The scheme was supposed to encourage the use of eco-friendly wood pellet boilers, but paid out more in subsidies than the cost of fuel.

Farming businesses account for the majority of RHI claimants.

Former UFU president Ian Marshall has two boilers listed under his wife Lesa's name which have earned subsidies worth more than £58,000.

He was UFU chief in 2015 and his boiler applications were made on November 11 of that year – just days before cost controls were introduced.

The lobby group's current president, Barclay Bell, uses a boiler on farm woodland to dry grain.

His boiler appears to be listed under the firm Stanley W Bell & Company which has received more than £20,000 since an application for subsidies was submitted on November 3, 2015.

Another ex-UFU president Harry Sinclair, from outside Draperstown, is also a recipient.

The previous RHI list released in March revealed that his firm Glenvilla Ultimate Dryers, incorporated in June 2015, applied to the scheme in October 2015 and has received almost £50,000 in subsidies for two boilers.

But the new list also shows Mr Sinclair has received more than £15,000 from another boiler which had an application submitted in September 2015.

Another former president, Derry-based John Gilliland, has received more than £200,000 in RHI subsidies.

The UFU has criticised Stormont for releasing the latest RHI list, saying that it doesn't show the "considerable financial investments made by participants or the associated running costs".

Mr Forgrave said he had invested more than £500,000 in the technology and a recent change in tariff would leave him £120,000 a year worse off.