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DUP's Timothy Johnston to return to RHI inquiry

Timothy Johnston at the RHI inquiry last week
Timothy Johnston at the RHI inquiry last week Timothy Johnston at the RHI inquiry last week

THE DUP's chief executive and former party special adviser Timothy Johnston will return today to the RHI inquiry.

Mr Johnston first appeared at the inquiry on Friday when he denied any role in the delay of cost controls for the flawed RHI scheme.

The RHI inquiry has heard claims from Timothy Cairns, a former DUP special adviser (Spad), that Mr Johnston was involved in delaying cost controls – contributing to the scheme running hugely over budget.

Mr Johnston – an ex-Spad to three former first ministers including DUP leader Arlene Foster – is scheduled to appear again before the inquiry this afternoon.

Read more:


Timothy Johnston dismisses claims that he blocked RHI cost controls


Who's who at the RHI inquiry

The inquiry will also hear today from SDLP Mid Ulster MLA Patsy McGlone, former chair of the Stormont assembly's enterprise committee which examined the RHI scheme.

Dermot Nolan, from energy regulator Ofgem, will attend the inquiry tomorrow.

Next week the inquiry will hear from Stormont finance department official Emer Morelli and Andrew McCormick, former permanent secretary of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (Deti) which launched the RHI scheme.

Mr McCormick previously alleged that he understood another ex-DUP Spad, Andrew Crawford, exerted influence over the delays in curbing the scheme's overgenerous tariffs.

Mr Crawford – a former Spad to Mrs Foster who launched the scheme – had a number of close relatives with boilers registered in the RHI scheme, but he denies wrongdoing.