Former DUP special adviser Andrew Crawford yesterday denied he had a row with senior civil servant David Sterling about his involvement in the botched Renewable Heat Incentive scheme.
Former enterprise minister Jonathan Bell previously told the inquiry that in January 2016 his ex-adviser Timothy Cairns told him of a public dispute between Dr Crawford and Mr Sterling.
Mr Sterling had allegedly accused Dr Crawford in September 2015 of keeping the RHI scheme open to benefit his family - who between them have 11 RHI boilers.
Mr Sterling had also allegedly claimed the disastrous handling of the scheme had ruined his hope of becoming head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service. Mr Sterling is presently interim head of the service due to the continuing political impasse at Stormont.
Dr Crawford told the inquiry yesterday the row had never happened.
"I've worked with David Sterling both in Deti (enterprise department) and DFP (finance department) and at no stage did we have loud altercations or rows," he said.
He added that it was Mr Sterling who told him in December/ January 2016 that senior civil servant Dr Andrew McCormick had alleged Dr Crawford was involved in RHI at a time when cost controls to the scheme were delayed.
He said it was the first time he had heard the allegation and was "taken aback" by it.
