Politics

Arlene Foster: I'm accountable but not responsible for actions of DUP Spad Andrew Crawford

Arlene Foster's former aide Andrew Crawford appearing before the RHI inquiry
Arlene Foster's former aide Andrew Crawford appearing before the RHI inquiry Arlene Foster's former aide Andrew Crawford appearing before the RHI inquiry
By John Manley

ARLENE Foster has said she is accountable but not responsible for the actions of her special adviser who leaked confidential RHI material to relatives.

The DUP leader returned to the RHI inquiry yesterday ahead of three former party advisers giving evidence over the coming days.

Mrs Foster defended the suitability of her party’s special advisers (Spads).

She also claimed the late deputy first minister, Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness, was aware of a whistleblower warning about the renewable energy scheme.

Then First Minister Arlene Foster and then Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness. Picture by Jonathan Brady/PA Wire
Then First Minister Arlene Foster and then Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness. Picture by Jonathan Brady/PA Wire Then First Minister Arlene Foster and then Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness. Picture by Jonathan Brady/PA Wire

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  • DUP's John Robinson regrets not declaring father-in-law link
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Mrs Foster told the inquiry that former minister Jonathan Bell pressed a “nuclear button” by going public with claims that party Spads delayed his plans to shut down the flawed energy scheme.

Andrew Crawford – whose poultry farmer brother and two cousins had 11 RHI boilers between them – has previously admitted that he shared inside information with relatives.

Inquiry counsel David Scoffield asked Mrs Foster that if the panel finds Mr Crawford breached standards, to what degree she holds some responsibility for his actions.

She said she was accountable for Mr Crawford’s behaviour but failed to see how she could “be responsible for that breach”, if a special adviser acted outside the rules.

Former DUP special adviser Andrew Crawford has previously admitted sharing RHI information with relatives
Former DUP special adviser Andrew Crawford has previously admitted sharing RHI information with relatives Former DUP special adviser Andrew Crawford has previously admitted sharing RHI information with relatives

“If he had committed a criminal offence as a Spad, I don’t see how the panel would be asking me to be responsible for that,” she said.

“I’m accountable but I’m not responsible.”

The inquiry will hear today from two former DUP Spads, Stephen Brimstone and John Robinson.

DUP leader Arlene Foster and former party special advisers John Robinson, Stephen Brimstone and Timothy Johnston
DUP leader Arlene Foster and former party special advisers John Robinson, Stephen Brimstone and Timothy Johnston DUP leader Arlene Foster and former party special advisers John Robinson, Stephen Brimstone and Timothy Johnston

Mr Brimstone applied to the RHI scheme weeks after a fellow party aide passed him papers outlining plans to cap subsidies.

In witness statements released last night he denied there was any real or perceived conflict of interest.

Mr Robinson, who is now the party’s director of communications, said he regrets not declaring earlier that his father-in-law was a recipient of the RHI scheme.