Belfast Telegraph

Party detests you because of RHI issue, whistleblo­wer tells Nolan

- BY MARK EDWARDS

A DUP whistleblo­wer has claimed the party “detests” BBC broadcaste­r Stephen Nolan and his producers “with every fibre of its body” for their coverage of the Renewable Heat Incentive scandal.

The unnamed politician, speaking on BBC Radio Ulster’s Nolan Show, revealed that DUP chief executive Timothy Johnston writes to and fines party politician­s if they say things to the media which have not been approved by the Press office.

The whistleblo­wer described Mr Johnston as “God incarnate” and “judge, jury, executione­r, implemente­r, enforcer and adviser” within the DUP.

“The party detests you and your producers with every fibre of its body,” the politician told Nolan.

“I hope you are not upset to hear that because they believe you have exposed the RHI scheme to the public and if it wasn’t for the way you homed in on this in December 2016 and made it a major issue that we would not be in the position we are in today.

“So, if you are under any illusion that the DUP don’t despise you, then I am afraid you are in for an awful shock.”

RHI was establishe­d to incentivis­e businesses to shift to renewable energy sources by offering a proportion of the costs to run eco-friendly boilers.

But the subsidy tariffs were set too high and without a cap, so it paid out more than the price of the fuel.

This led to members of the RHI scheme making huge profits from the flawed green energy scheme.

The scandal led to the collapse of the Executive with late Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness resigning in protest at the DUP’s handling of the issue.

 ??  ?? DUP chief executive Timothy Johnston and (inset) Stephen Nolan
DUP chief executive Timothy Johnston and (inset) Stephen Nolan

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