News

RHI inquiry: Texts and emails of politicians and officials obtained

Retired appeal court judge Sir Patrick Coghlin, centre, at the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) inquiry. Picture by Mal McCann
Retired appeal court judge Sir Patrick Coghlin, centre, at the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) inquiry. Picture by Mal McCann Retired appeal court judge Sir Patrick Coghlin, centre, at the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) inquiry. Picture by Mal McCann

THE RHI inquiry has secured text messages and emails exchanged among politicians and officials in the wake of former DUP minister Jonathan Bell's explosive TV interview about the scandal.

Internet search data and phone records of civil servants have also been obtained as part of more than one million pieces of documentary evidence compiled for the probe.

Nearly a year ago, Mr Bell and DUP leader Arlene Foster both took part in sensational interviews at the height of the RHI controversy in which they gave conflicting accounts.

Former enterprise minister Mr Bell broke ranks to level a series of allegations against Mrs Foster and party advisers, with the then first minister responding with counter-claims.

All involved have denied wrongdoing and the two politicians are not expected to give evidence to the inquiry until next year.

RHI was set up in 2012 to incentivise businesses to switch to renewable heat sources, but paid out more in subsidies than the cost of fuel.

The lack of cost controls has left taxpayers facing a potential overspend of as much as £700m over 20 years.

The 'cash for ash' controversy also led to the collapse of the north's power-sharing government, a snap assembly election and the continued political deadlock at Stormont.

The public inquiry has the power to compel people and organisations to provide evidence or produce documents, and more than 500 of these notices have been issued.

As oral hearings began yesterday, a lawyer for the inquiry said claims of political interference and improper patronage would be examined in forensic detail.

David Scoffield QC added: "It is undoubtedly part of the RHI story, that concern about what happened with this scheme reached such fever pitch that it struck at the very heart of our democratic institutions."