‘A monumental work of solid reportage, measured, elegant and thorough. This is a story of political ineptitude and waste. That Stormont sought to use a scheme for saving the environment as an opportunity for the lavish squandering of money and energy speaks of ignorance and cynicism. Sam McBride, throughout this story, has been one of the journalists who stayed with it and explained it best through his articles and broadcasts. Now that work coalesces into an exemplary work of journalism. If politicians had maintained their standards with a similar responsibility, this book would not have needed to be written.’
Malachi O’Doherty, journalist and author
‘The RHI scandal played a significant role in bringing Northern Ireland’s experiment in devolution to its knees. Future historians will ask how did this happen? Sam McBride’s book will be their first port of call. He has been at the heart of the journalistic coverage of this crisis and it shows in every page.’
Lord Bew, historian and Emeritus Professor of Irish politics at Queen’s University, Belfast
‘This is one of the most important books in the history of Northern Ireland. To devastating effect, it sets out the path of RHI, a scandal that highlights profound problems with how we are governed in the 21st century.’
Ben Lowry, deputy editor, News Letter
‘Superbly researched and explained with clarity and precision, Burned tells the tale of a grossly mismanaged green energy scheme which brought down Northern Ireland’s power sharing government, tarnishing its internationally-acclaimed reputation for partnership and peace-making. The sorry saga of incompetence, groupthink, buck-passing and failure to pay heed to warnings unfolds like a slow motion car crash. Sam McBride’s book should be required reading for those working in the public and private sectors far beyond Northern Ireland as a manual on how not to run major projects and how not to govern a society.’
Mark Devenport, political journalist and broadcaster
‘This book is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand how the Stormont institutions were brought down by a scandal of enormous proportions. It clearly, coldly and comprehensively sets out a series of astonishing events involving incredible sums of public money and deserves to be studied by all those interested in our political process.’
Noel Doran, editor, The Irish News
‘As Brexit dominates politics in Westminster and Dublin, Sam McBride’s lucid and compelling account of the nightmarish reality of devolution in Northern Ireland shows us that there will be no easy solutions in Belfast. This triumph of investigative journalism from one of the UK’s most important reporters spares nobody. Anybody who wishes to understand how the DUP and Sinn Féin’s great experiment failed should read it – not that they will want you to.’
Patrick Maguire, political correspondent, New Statesman
‘An intriguing forensic examination of the RHI scandal which brought down Stormont. It should be an essential textbook for politicians , advisers and the civil service. Sam McBride’s book clearly points out this must never happen again if faith in politics is to be restored.’
Ken Reid, UTV Political Editor
‘Unlike the RHI legislation she introduced, I hope Arlene Foster actually reads this. Sam McBride brilliantly untangles the facts about RHI to reveal a jaw-dropping and occasionally hilarious omnishambles. The author has taken the fiendishly complex RHI scandal and made it both comprehensible and shocking. If I were a civil servant, or a DUP spad or worked at Moy Park I would demand that all copies of this book were burnt in a 99kw wood pellet boiler.’
Tim McGarry, comedian
‘One of Belfast’s most authoritative journalists has produced a fascinating and detailed account of one of the city’s most controversial episodes.’
David McKittrick, journalist and author
‘One of the most important books on Northern Ireland politics since the Good Friday Agreement; and certainly the most important on the Assembly and the function — and dysfunction — of devolution. Disturbingly revelatory.’
Alex Kane, columnist and commentator
BURNED
BURNED
THE INSIDE STORY OF THE ‘CASH-FOR-ASH’ SCANDAL AND NORTHERN IRELAND’S SECRETIVE NEW ELITE
SAM McBRIDE
First published in 2019 by
Merrion Press
An imprint of Irish Academic Press
10 George’s Street
Newbridge
Co. Kildare
Ireland
© Sam McBride, 2019
9781785372698 (Paper)
9781785372704 (Kindle)
9781785372711 (Epub)
9781785372728 (PDF)
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
An entry can be found on request
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
An entry can be found on request
All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved alone, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
Typeset in Minion Pro 11/15 pt
Cover Design: Rory Jeffers/Jeffers & Sons
CONTENTS
