What do you think?
Rate this book
Burned: The Inside Story of the ‘Cash-for-Ash’ Scandal and Northern Ireland’s Secretive New Elite
One of the most shocking scandals in Northern Irish political history: originally a green-energy initiative, the Renewal Heat Incentive (RHI) or ‘cash-for-ash’ scheme saw Northern Ireland’s government pay £1.60 for every £1 of fuel the public burned in their wood-pellet boilers, leading to widespread abuse and ultimately the collapse of the power-sharing administration at Stormont.
Revealing the wild incompetence of the Northern Ireland civil service and the ineptitude and serious abuses of power by some of those at the head of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), now propping up Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government and a major factor in the Brexit negotiations, this scandal exposed not only some of Northern Ireland’s most powerful figures but revealed problems that go to the very heart of how NI is governed.
A riveting political thriller from the journalist who covered the controversy for over two years, Burned is the inside story of the shocking scandal that brought down a government.
Revealing the wild incompetence of the Northern Ireland civil service and the ineptitude and serious abuses of power by some of those at the head of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), now propping up Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government and a major factor in the Brexit negotiations, this scandal exposed not only some of Northern Ireland’s most powerful figures but revealed problems that go to the very heart of how NI is governed.
A riveting political thriller from the journalist who covered the controversy for over two years, Burned is the inside story of the shocking scandal that brought down a government.
380 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2019
205 people are currently reading
342 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
November 13, 2019
If this was a fiction book, Mr McBride would be receiving 1 star for creating such an outlandish and impossible story starring some of the most unrelatable and dispicable public servants. A comprehensive overview of a scandal seemingly incomprehensible. A warning to those (such as myself) who had let their anger lapse, it will return with a vengeance. Impeccably well researched and engaging with every page.
November 17, 2019
'Burned' is about profligacy, incompetence and mild corruption. A renewable heating scheme in Northern Ireland, based on one in England, has a fatal flaw: the subsidy it promises exceeds the costs which users will incur if they install the systems. Hence it quickly becomes obvious that anyone who can meet the critieria will buy boilers and run them (on wood chips, or other supposedly eco-friendly fuel) for as much time as they can, gobbling up fuel that is more than paid for by the regular subsidy, which will continue for years into the future.
McBride is not the journalist who exposed the scandal but he has done a good job of turning the matter-of-fact record of the public inquiry into a readable account that also gives the reader the background to what happened. For anyone who has had regular dealings with the UK civil service, the episode is shocking, revealing that what one suspected was the case about Northern Ireland politics is, in reality, even worse. There are problems about the book: it gets bogged down in detail and is too long. But for anyone who is involved in or concerned about Northern Ireland politics, it is essential and salutory reading.
McBride is not the journalist who exposed the scandal but he has done a good job of turning the matter-of-fact record of the public inquiry into a readable account that also gives the reader the background to what happened. For anyone who has had regular dealings with the UK civil service, the episode is shocking, revealing that what one suspected was the case about Northern Ireland politics is, in reality, even worse. There are problems about the book: it gets bogged down in detail and is too long. But for anyone who is involved in or concerned about Northern Ireland politics, it is essential and salutory reading.
January 4, 2020
Hard to put down. Appalling tale of incredible incompetence and much more that almost read like a farce if it hadn’t been so disturbing. A worrying look behind the scenes of government in NI.
July 30, 2020
It feels a tad harsh giving this three stars. An incredibly well-researched book, this tells the compelling story of how one of Ireland's biggest ever scandals came to be.
Sam McBride goes into forensic detail on the makings of the RHI, how early signs and flagged concerns were interpreted and in many cases ignored, and how even after it was know that the scheme was spiralling out of control, it continued.
There are countless insights into Northern Irish politics I was previously unaware of - the unseen power of unelected special advisors and how senior civil servants wield disproportionate power, and how parties and politicians avoided scrutiny through a routine of unminuted meetings, private phone calls, private email addresses and ignored FOI requests.
The author doesn't unfairly point fingers, acknowledging that whether or not the scandal lies in incompetence or ill intention can't be known definitively, but there are plenty of warning signs - favouritism of major companies providing jobs, and DUP officials and relatives who benefitted from the scheme. Ultimately, he concludes that the scale of the scandal poses a major threat to unionism and Northern Ireland as it is today.
The book is impeccably researched but in my opinion is too long - as someone working in the media I understand the need to cover every angle both legally and narratively, but there are parts such as detailed descriptions of biomass boilers and their intricacies which may dissuade a casual reader.
Still, this is an important book on Northern Irish politics, covering a scandal which should be spoken about outside of Ireland far more than it is.
Sam McBride goes into forensic detail on the makings of the RHI, how early signs and flagged concerns were interpreted and in many cases ignored, and how even after it was know that the scheme was spiralling out of control, it continued.
There are countless insights into Northern Irish politics I was previously unaware of - the unseen power of unelected special advisors and how senior civil servants wield disproportionate power, and how parties and politicians avoided scrutiny through a routine of unminuted meetings, private phone calls, private email addresses and ignored FOI requests.
The author doesn't unfairly point fingers, acknowledging that whether or not the scandal lies in incompetence or ill intention can't be known definitively, but there are plenty of warning signs - favouritism of major companies providing jobs, and DUP officials and relatives who benefitted from the scheme. Ultimately, he concludes that the scale of the scandal poses a major threat to unionism and Northern Ireland as it is today.
The book is impeccably researched but in my opinion is too long - as someone working in the media I understand the need to cover every angle both legally and narratively, but there are parts such as detailed descriptions of biomass boilers and their intricacies which may dissuade a casual reader.
Still, this is an important book on Northern Irish politics, covering a scandal which should be spoken about outside of Ireland far more than it is.
April 21, 2021
A very well researched and written account of what really happened. What an eye opener highlighting the corruption at the heart of Stormont. Such a disgrace that no-one has ever been held accountable.
December 26, 2022
Nepotism, cronyism, incompetence, arrogance and downright stupidity. It’s all here in this book. Often jaw dropping and at times almost beyond belief this is an amazing but tragic display of a system with too many morally corrupt individuals permitted to operate as the beating heart of Stormont and without a strong and fierce public service to check them. Even if you aren’t a public servant, you’ll be angry, sad and confused.
4 stars for the level of research and detail that even the public inquiry did not pick up though it dragged on at times and was light in other interesting areas. The chapter “too big to fail” on the connection between Moy Park and the RHI could have been more detailed given the potential significance of the claim. The author’s complaints on the generality of public servants shows he has never worked in it or understands the challenge for less experienced workers in that context.
4 stars for the level of research and detail that even the public inquiry did not pick up though it dragged on at times and was light in other interesting areas. The chapter “too big to fail” on the connection between Moy Park and the RHI could have been more detailed given the potential significance of the claim. The author’s complaints on the generality of public servants shows he has never worked in it or understands the challenge for less experienced workers in that context.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 27, 2020
A treatise on how not to do government. It is infuriating and shocking by turn, the incompetence described in these pages is jaw-droppingly incredible, the poor regard for public service and good governance is deeply disconcerting. It also shows how essential good journalism is. Thankful for Sam McBride's attention to detail to bring this important narrative together.
May 14, 2020
This is a detailed report of a political scandal in Northern Ireland. It is very well researched and well structured. l knew the outline of the story but by the end l knew all the details and players. lt was worth the long read.
November 26, 2019
Exceptionally well written and researched, this is a sadly necessary book in Northern Ireland. Necessary because our civil servants and politicians had to be held to account for the RHI mistakes. To quote the book, the sequence of events is like something out of 'in the thick of it'. Mistake after mistake, both products of individual decisions and the systems of governance themselves. A must read, particularly for those in government; plenty of lessons to be learnt.
November 18, 2019
Rarely is there a piece of journalism that emerges that could be called exceptional, impartial to a fault and fully supported by comprehensive evidence from multiple, credible sources. This is one such piece of work. Sam McBride utterly and effectively exposes the incompetence, dishonesty and culture of secrecy/unaccountability of the two biggest Stormont parties who between them have produced scandal after scandal, culminating in the destructive RHI and Stormont's collapse. Yet, he is inscrutably fair and balanced in his analysis, giving evidence of civil servants' incompetence, and all contributory factors (including the similar culture of impunity in the NI Civil Service which led to the unprofessional attitudes of individual, named civil servants involved in the catastrophe of RHI).
Sam McBride gets to the root of the RHI scandal - the attitudes to "free money" and the "fill yer boots" greed of certain spads and individuals. On the face of it, this might be a depressing read. Yet the scale of evidence brought to McBride's desk at The Newsletter suggests that many involved in trying to govern Northern Ireland are indeed honourable and trustworthy people, who are determined to expose and stop the rot of corruption and secrecy that for the last decade in particular has characterised devolution. This is a brave, ground-breaking exposé. Yet in reading it, one gets the impression that everything McBride says is indeed true - why else would he have had the confidence to defy the many threats against him by DUP figures of legal action and law suits for defamation. McBride simply forensically and skillfully follows the evidence where it leads. It is a twisted, convoluted and ugly picture which emerges of senior politicians and government ministers responsible for spending millions of pounds of hard-earned taxpayers' money yet cynically creating a culture of impunity and secrecy to cover their tracks. Yet, in skilfully piecing together circumstancial and actual evidence and compelling testimony, together with asking relevant, pertinent questions of words, actions and responses given at the RHI inquiry, McBride does the public at large a huge service in allowing readers to reach logical, sound conclusions.
This is a difficult read at times due to the plot twists and changing scenarios but a necessary one for anybody wishing to have government ministers and civil servants brought to account and functioning in the interests of the public they (supposedly) serve. McBride should be in line for several prizes for this as an outstanding piece of journalism.
Sam McBride gets to the root of the RHI scandal - the attitudes to "free money" and the "fill yer boots" greed of certain spads and individuals. On the face of it, this might be a depressing read. Yet the scale of evidence brought to McBride's desk at The Newsletter suggests that many involved in trying to govern Northern Ireland are indeed honourable and trustworthy people, who are determined to expose and stop the rot of corruption and secrecy that for the last decade in particular has characterised devolution. This is a brave, ground-breaking exposé. Yet in reading it, one gets the impression that everything McBride says is indeed true - why else would he have had the confidence to defy the many threats against him by DUP figures of legal action and law suits for defamation. McBride simply forensically and skillfully follows the evidence where it leads. It is a twisted, convoluted and ugly picture which emerges of senior politicians and government ministers responsible for spending millions of pounds of hard-earned taxpayers' money yet cynically creating a culture of impunity and secrecy to cover their tracks. Yet, in skilfully piecing together circumstancial and actual evidence and compelling testimony, together with asking relevant, pertinent questions of words, actions and responses given at the RHI inquiry, McBride does the public at large a huge service in allowing readers to reach logical, sound conclusions.
This is a difficult read at times due to the plot twists and changing scenarios but a necessary one for anybody wishing to have government ministers and civil servants brought to account and functioning in the interests of the public they (supposedly) serve. McBride should be in line for several prizes for this as an outstanding piece of journalism.
April 10, 2024
Exhaustive, if sometimes also exhausting, in the breadth of its detail. McBride is bloody good at relentlessly digging deep to get at the real story buried in plain sight and dry documentary evidence; his skill in turning a procedural political story so plainly boring it went undetected for years into a terse thriller is really impressive.
April 28, 2025
https://fromtheheartofeurope.eu/burned-the-inside-story-of-the-cash-for-ash-scandal-and-northern-irelands-secretive-new-elite-by-sam-mcbride/
This is a tremendous expose of the colossal scandal that brought down the Northern Ireland power-sharing executive government in early 2017, taking another three years before it was restored (and then it was gone again in two years, being restored only a year ago). The guts of the story are that a subsidy for using renewable heat sources for commercial purposes was perversely structured so that the state effectively paid users to burn biomass; “cash for ash” as it was dubbed.
McBride was at the forefront of breaking this story through the News Letter, and the BBC was also particularly strong on the case (to the point that when I bumped into Arlene Foster in 2019, with a BBC journalist by my side, she chatted pleasantly with me while totally cutting my companion). It still doesn’t get to the bottom of the question – did anyone consciously legislate for this bottomless subsidy to arise? – but there is one obvious key beneficiary.
Once it became clear that far from subsidising the vast cash giveaway, the UK government was going to claw it back from the Northern Ireland budget, the shit hit the fan and politicians and ministers began manoeuvring not just to avoid blame but also to extract the maximum amount of money from the system before it was closed. As a BBC journalist put it:
‘Those ongoing costs are likely to be at least £400 million. That could have paid for the new Omagh Hospital, the dualling of the A26 at Frosses [between Ballymena and Ballymoney], the York Street Interchange and the Belfast Rapid Transit System. With £15m left over.’
McBride despairs over the incompetence of the Civil Service in allowing the system to have arisen in the first place, and the incompetence of ministerial oversight. Jonathan Bell, the DUP minister who actually exposed the scandal in the first place, is himself exposed as bad-tempered and over-indulging in alcohol, under-briefed and displacing responsibility. Arlene Foster, on whose watch the scheme was set up and who then became First Minister, seems to have been curiously indifferent to the potential problems.
If Arlene Foster had followed the example of Peter Robinson, and stepped aside for a few weeks for a preliminary investigation to clear her of personal misconduct, devolution would have continued and the DUP would likely still be the largest party in Northern Ireland. As it was, she let ego override strategy, not for the first or last time. Sinn Fein also come in for criticism for their management of the financial side, and for the fact that ministerial decisions are still apparently being signed off by non-elected individuals.
I won’t embarrass them, but I am glad that the two people who I know best out of the whole disappointing story, a senior DUP special advisor and a senior civil servant (now retired), come out rather well; my DUP friend was only peripherally involved by all accounts, and my civil servant friend was one of the first to realise how badly things had gone wrong and, crucially, to accept responsibility.
I felt at the time that it was actually quite healthy for a Stormont government to fall over an actual issue of governance, rather than something related to the Norn Iron Problem – the only precedent is the deposition of John Miller Andrews in 1943. McBride however shows that the Norn Iron Problem includes the problem of a very small pool of political and administrative talent in a territory with such a small population, and this was one of the factors in the RHI scandal.
This is something that I have observed in my dealings with other small states. The issue isn’t whether the polity is economically viable, it’s whether there are enough smart people around to run it properly. I think the critical mass is probably around 2 million, the size of Slovenia, unless you have positive immigration boosting the numbers (eg Luxembourg). Northern Ireland, at 1.7 million, isn’t quite there yet.
This is a tremendous expose of the colossal scandal that brought down the Northern Ireland power-sharing executive government in early 2017, taking another three years before it was restored (and then it was gone again in two years, being restored only a year ago). The guts of the story are that a subsidy for using renewable heat sources for commercial purposes was perversely structured so that the state effectively paid users to burn biomass; “cash for ash” as it was dubbed.
McBride was at the forefront of breaking this story through the News Letter, and the BBC was also particularly strong on the case (to the point that when I bumped into Arlene Foster in 2019, with a BBC journalist by my side, she chatted pleasantly with me while totally cutting my companion). It still doesn’t get to the bottom of the question – did anyone consciously legislate for this bottomless subsidy to arise? – but there is one obvious key beneficiary.
Once it became clear that far from subsidising the vast cash giveaway, the UK government was going to claw it back from the Northern Ireland budget, the shit hit the fan and politicians and ministers began manoeuvring not just to avoid blame but also to extract the maximum amount of money from the system before it was closed. As a BBC journalist put it:
‘Those ongoing costs are likely to be at least £400 million. That could have paid for the new Omagh Hospital, the dualling of the A26 at Frosses [between Ballymena and Ballymoney], the York Street Interchange and the Belfast Rapid Transit System. With £15m left over.’
McBride despairs over the incompetence of the Civil Service in allowing the system to have arisen in the first place, and the incompetence of ministerial oversight. Jonathan Bell, the DUP minister who actually exposed the scandal in the first place, is himself exposed as bad-tempered and over-indulging in alcohol, under-briefed and displacing responsibility. Arlene Foster, on whose watch the scheme was set up and who then became First Minister, seems to have been curiously indifferent to the potential problems.
If Arlene Foster had followed the example of Peter Robinson, and stepped aside for a few weeks for a preliminary investigation to clear her of personal misconduct, devolution would have continued and the DUP would likely still be the largest party in Northern Ireland. As it was, she let ego override strategy, not for the first or last time. Sinn Fein also come in for criticism for their management of the financial side, and for the fact that ministerial decisions are still apparently being signed off by non-elected individuals.
I won’t embarrass them, but I am glad that the two people who I know best out of the whole disappointing story, a senior DUP special advisor and a senior civil servant (now retired), come out rather well; my DUP friend was only peripherally involved by all accounts, and my civil servant friend was one of the first to realise how badly things had gone wrong and, crucially, to accept responsibility.
I felt at the time that it was actually quite healthy for a Stormont government to fall over an actual issue of governance, rather than something related to the Norn Iron Problem – the only precedent is the deposition of John Miller Andrews in 1943. McBride however shows that the Norn Iron Problem includes the problem of a very small pool of political and administrative talent in a territory with such a small population, and this was one of the factors in the RHI scandal.
This is something that I have observed in my dealings with other small states. The issue isn’t whether the polity is economically viable, it’s whether there are enough smart people around to run it properly. I think the critical mass is probably around 2 million, the size of Slovenia, unless you have positive immigration boosting the numbers (eg Luxembourg). Northern Ireland, at 1.7 million, isn’t quite there yet.
November 16, 2019
It has been clear for the last 2 years that Sam McBride had a real in depth knowledge and understanding not only the issues but the characters involved in the RHI scandal which cost tax-payers millions of pounds and lined the pockets of a few.
In his book BURNT he more than demonstrates his investigative journalist credentials by exposing in great detail the sequence of events which led to the scandal, how the system was broken and by whom. Even those with scant knowledge of Northern Ireland affairs cannot be but enthralled how he uses the drama of the public inquiry into the affair, the vision of a DUP Minister being prayed over before seeking to blow the whistle in a televisual farce exposing his colleagues to scrutiny; a Minister who apparently enjoyed drinking while away on trips at the tax-payers expense and of course the looming figures in the background who pulled the strings. Sam sees clearly the consequences of the actions of the DUP Ministers and Special Advisers and the inaction of the civil servants who didn't even keep records of meetings where decisions where taken and how Sinn Fein at best turned a Nelsonian eye until it was too late. The final few chapters explore the questions that are left hanging until the Inquiry publishes its deliberations and questions who were the real beneficiaries of the scheme and what was the real purpose in setting it up without proper protection for tax-payers money.
It was difficult to put this book down and is a highly recommended read. Thanks Sam.
In his book BURNT he more than demonstrates his investigative journalist credentials by exposing in great detail the sequence of events which led to the scandal, how the system was broken and by whom. Even those with scant knowledge of Northern Ireland affairs cannot be but enthralled how he uses the drama of the public inquiry into the affair, the vision of a DUP Minister being prayed over before seeking to blow the whistle in a televisual farce exposing his colleagues to scrutiny; a Minister who apparently enjoyed drinking while away on trips at the tax-payers expense and of course the looming figures in the background who pulled the strings. Sam sees clearly the consequences of the actions of the DUP Ministers and Special Advisers and the inaction of the civil servants who didn't even keep records of meetings where decisions where taken and how Sinn Fein at best turned a Nelsonian eye until it was too late. The final few chapters explore the questions that are left hanging until the Inquiry publishes its deliberations and questions who were the real beneficiaries of the scheme and what was the real purpose in setting it up without proper protection for tax-payers money.
It was difficult to put this book down and is a highly recommended read. Thanks Sam.
August 12, 2020
I heard about this scandal from my cousin who lives in Fermanagh, not too far from NI's first minister Arlene Foster. While I trust my cousin, the story sounded so strange and fantastical, I wondered if it were skewed a bit due to political leanings...uh, no, the story is completely ridiculous and 100% true.
This book is an interesting look at how the thousand little idiosyncrasies involved in NI government can lead to the collapse of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
This should be essential reading for the hundreds of people I've met in GB who know nothing about NI (at 3% of the population and the place most likely to suffer post-Brexit, take an interest at least!), and for civil servants everywhere (another timely reminder that politicians can skirt massive scandals, and the civil service is left holding the baby/bag).
While I do love a detailed account, I found this book a bit too long and detailed. By halfway through I thought I had the basic picture (and by that point you have about 90% of the story), but the rest of the book is still quite important by filling in the role of Moy Park and Sinn Fein. I stopped reading this for a few weeks and felt no real need to finish it, but I'm so glad I did. Please finish the book! The things I learned about Moy Park in the last few chapters has put me off chicken for life (although don't let that deter you...).
This book is an interesting look at how the thousand little idiosyncrasies involved in NI government can lead to the collapse of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
This should be essential reading for the hundreds of people I've met in GB who know nothing about NI (at 3% of the population and the place most likely to suffer post-Brexit, take an interest at least!), and for civil servants everywhere (another timely reminder that politicians can skirt massive scandals, and the civil service is left holding the baby/bag).
While I do love a detailed account, I found this book a bit too long and detailed. By halfway through I thought I had the basic picture (and by that point you have about 90% of the story), but the rest of the book is still quite important by filling in the role of Moy Park and Sinn Fein. I stopped reading this for a few weeks and felt no real need to finish it, but I'm so glad I did. Please finish the book! The things I learned about Moy Park in the last few chapters has put me off chicken for life (although don't let that deter you...).
December 12, 2021
I heard a lot about this book and the story behind it, but decided to take my time buying it and reading it. I am glad I did, it is a very well written book about a scandal of mishandling government resources that had to happen some time. That it happened the way it did was entirely surprising at the time, but with hindsight and a journalist's probing eye for how different government departments connect, how the ministers had ways of not saying what they wanted to happen, how their advisers stood in for the decisions ministers refused to make, and how the civil service simply could not be any sort of check or balance this time around with the absence of guidance, so the image of a collapsing pack of cards comes to mind.
Who is the real baddy in this story? The most evil corporate genius? My candidate would be Moy Park Poultry, a multinational company centred in Brazil who are central to the agribusiness economy in Northern Ireland, whose organisational skill dwarfs the Stormont government. To me they seemed so far above/outside the law that the idea that they may be properly held to account is absurd. Moy Park Inc worked through the farmers who raised the chickens that Moy Park would kill and sell to the public. The farmers bought the heaters because of the profit to be made by burning the heat, where the heaters had the secondary side effect of marginally improving the short lives of the chickens that the farmers raised to sell to Moy Park Inc. That secondary role of improving the lives of chickens made good cover for purchasers of boilers under the scheme who had no chickens at all. That everything was operated digitally and there was very little inspection of barns and sheds heated added to the dereliction of duty by government.
But ineptitude will exact it's price. When there was an election none of the parties central to the scam dare go back into government with the scam still in operation/being wound down. It took Brexit to restore Stormont government, a political process which is still controversial and divisive in itself. Come the next Stormont elections, in Spring 2022, this book should provide plenty of material for questions to aim at the candidates who are standing and embarrass them with.
Who is the real baddy in this story? The most evil corporate genius? My candidate would be Moy Park Poultry, a multinational company centred in Brazil who are central to the agribusiness economy in Northern Ireland, whose organisational skill dwarfs the Stormont government. To me they seemed so far above/outside the law that the idea that they may be properly held to account is absurd. Moy Park Inc worked through the farmers who raised the chickens that Moy Park would kill and sell to the public. The farmers bought the heaters because of the profit to be made by burning the heat, where the heaters had the secondary side effect of marginally improving the short lives of the chickens that the farmers raised to sell to Moy Park Inc. That secondary role of improving the lives of chickens made good cover for purchasers of boilers under the scheme who had no chickens at all. That everything was operated digitally and there was very little inspection of barns and sheds heated added to the dereliction of duty by government.
But ineptitude will exact it's price. When there was an election none of the parties central to the scam dare go back into government with the scam still in operation/being wound down. It took Brexit to restore Stormont government, a political process which is still controversial and divisive in itself. Come the next Stormont elections, in Spring 2022, this book should provide plenty of material for questions to aim at the candidates who are standing and embarrass them with.
Read
September 9, 2022I really wanted to read this because of the significant impact to taxpayers and the negative reality of what should have been a positive introduction of a different form of energy usage. I am taken aback by the lack of accountability. I thought that the blame lay solely at politicians door but what is frightening is that it also lies at the doors of the civil service and to those elite that pull the strings in the background. What's more disappointing is that abuse of a scheme was done so legally albeit from tip offs from within inside. There are of course those businesses who invested in a terrible policy that are still paying for it if not bankrupt today. A hard read and harder when you know folks still vote tribal and those behind decisions remain in position. RHI is already forgotten in daily lives though the reality is the bill for it is detracting from health, justice, education etc .....
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 11, 2020
A must read for anyone with an interest, no matter how small, in Northern Ireland politics. A glaring insight as to what goes on behind the walls, on the corridors of Stormont and in the NI civil Service. Things the public has remained mostly oblivious too since Devolution.
Many of the claims, if brought up by someone pitching a parody lampooning Stormont in some sort of 'Yes Prime Minister' style comedy show would be seen as over exaggerated or too far fetched. But here we have them laid out and backed up by the words, paperwork and official documents of the people involved.
Astonishingly the author has managed to make such a complex story of facts and figures with many layers easy to follow. So even someone with limited or possibly even no prior knowledge of Stormont could understand.
Many of the claims, if brought up by someone pitching a parody lampooning Stormont in some sort of 'Yes Prime Minister' style comedy show would be seen as over exaggerated or too far fetched. But here we have them laid out and backed up by the words, paperwork and official documents of the people involved.
Astonishingly the author has managed to make such a complex story of facts and figures with many layers easy to follow. So even someone with limited or possibly even no prior knowledge of Stormont could understand.
April 25, 2020
A cutting insight into the biggest scandal of the UK and Ireland's poultry business and the dysfunctions inherent in Northern Ireland's parliamentary sector. No one looks good here. Sam McBride delivers first class investigation and to nearly every page eye-rolling criminal incompetency or criminal corruption. Nearly every page, no hyperbole. There's journalistic detective work following the money to Europe, South America, Irish paramilitaries and religious inquisitions. This is a real follow-the-money book. The writing style is clear, lively, inspiring, with a few laughs at audacity and no easy pot-shots, all with set out context. This book lifts the curtain on one of the biggest UK financial scandals, NI's connection to this as a whole and the anti-Union character of Unionism. Deserving many awards for great journalism and deserving of your time.
February 15, 2020
I had followed this issue from the time it began to be public knowledge, but even I didn't realise the multiple levels of incompetence, arrogance, dysfunction, entitlement, laziness, cowardice, lack of integrity if not corruption, and hypocrisy that this book chronicles. I read it on kindle but my wife knew when I was reading it because I spent my time shaking my head and sighing. It is a comprehensive and accessible account of the whole mess, although perhaps a little long (though I suspect it will be somewhat shorter than Coghlin's inquiry report, if we ever get to see it!) However Sam McBride deserves all the plaudits coming his way for following this through in the face of DUP opposition, including threats of legal proceedings.
December 17, 2019
Unbelievable!
Shocking!
Sensational!
Eye-opening!
How can we ever trust them again?
The people of Northern Ireland owe Sam McBride a great debt of gratitude for this book, and lifting up the lid of a stinking, corrupt Legislative Assembly and the many self-seeking and self-serving Members who populate it! He has also shone a light on the Northern Ireland Civil Service, and in particular my old Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment and how officials have consistently and gloriously failed to be what they are supposed to be ... civil servants!
To say anything more would be the spoil the read!
A truly 5-star read!
Shocking!
Sensational!
Eye-opening!
How can we ever trust them again?
The people of Northern Ireland owe Sam McBride a great debt of gratitude for this book, and lifting up the lid of a stinking, corrupt Legislative Assembly and the many self-seeking and self-serving Members who populate it! He has also shone a light on the Northern Ireland Civil Service, and in particular my old Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment and how officials have consistently and gloriously failed to be what they are supposed to be ... civil servants!
To say anything more would be the spoil the read!
A truly 5-star read!
February 29, 2020
A hugely comprehensive overview of the endemic corruption and incompetence at the heart of Northern Ireland's government and civil service which brought about the collapse of Stormont.
Much of the material is gleamed from the public enquiry and, at times, could do with some judicious editing for the sake of readability. But the author has to be admired for the level of detail here as well.
Perhaps most worrying of all is that many of the issues identified in the book, particularly in relation to Stormont's highly paid and unelected SPADs, do not appear to have been addressed in the newly restored Stormont.
Much of the material is gleamed from the public enquiry and, at times, could do with some judicious editing for the sake of readability. But the author has to be admired for the level of detail here as well.
Perhaps most worrying of all is that many of the issues identified in the book, particularly in relation to Stormont's highly paid and unelected SPADs, do not appear to have been addressed in the newly restored Stormont.
March 16, 2020
Scandalous, even by Northern Ireland's standards
Excellent investigative piece that lays bare the utter incompetence, greed and unrepentant attitude at the heart of Stormont. Only in Northern Ireland could Arlene Foster and other members of the DUP survive a scandal such as this. Sinn Fein don't come out of this smelling of roses either and in a land crying out for some normality it's really is a kick in the teeth for the average tax payer. Respect to the author who's newspaper has been accused of being a DUP mouthpiece previously. No doubt it took courage and fortitude, to what some might perceive as biting the hand that feeds you.
Excellent investigative piece that lays bare the utter incompetence, greed and unrepentant attitude at the heart of Stormont. Only in Northern Ireland could Arlene Foster and other members of the DUP survive a scandal such as this. Sinn Fein don't come out of this smelling of roses either and in a land crying out for some normality it's really is a kick in the teeth for the average tax payer. Respect to the author who's newspaper has been accused of being a DUP mouthpiece previously. No doubt it took courage and fortitude, to what some might perceive as biting the hand that feeds you.
May 24, 2020
A bit challenging to get into until you acclimatize to the investigative reporting style. I'm from N. Ireland so have seen the political system here from the 70s to present. I knew that it was likely to expose the corruption of the political system here and after reading it I actually felt angry. If I were to get on as many of the characters do in the story I would be sacked from my job. The book does give you an insight into how Stormont works here and that was interesting in itself. Sam McBride has done an excellent job. If anything it restores some faith in journalism itself which is not immune from its own foibles. I recommend this book
August 28, 2022
Well it's the best book about Northern Irish energy policy I've ever read. But seriously it is an excellent inditement of the scandalous mismanagement of the Renewable Heat Initiative in Northern Ireland, which made it more profitable to burn oats than sell them, and heat empty sheds. But it is also a book that lays out how this scandal revealed the fundamental flaws in the current devolution settlement and the venality of the major parties in the region, a very fine piece of political reporting.
November 14, 2019
A fantastic insight into the incompetence of the NI civil service and the NI Assembly. It's a long book and I suspect that this could have turned into a book that went on forever. Sam McBride has done a cracking job of turning over 1 million pages of evidence into a well written, entertaining and page turner of a book.
It's certainly a book that a lot of people wouldn't want you to read and that surely makes it a reason that everyone should read it.
It's certainly a book that a lot of people wouldn't want you to read and that surely makes it a reason that everyone should read it.
January 9, 2020
A detailed insight into the Northern Ireland Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme, giving a view into how the Northern Irish civil service and Executive operate (it's not a pretty picture).
It's pretty dry reading however, as much as Sam McBride and others try to give it a bit of drama.
I'd suggest you flick between the 'Key Players' chapter as it can sometimes get confusing who they book is talking about at times.
It's pretty dry reading however, as much as Sam McBride and others try to give it a bit of drama.
I'd suggest you flick between the 'Key Players' chapter as it can sometimes get confusing who they book is talking about at times.
January 10, 2020
A detailed walk through on the development of the RHI scheme and it’s slow walk into calamity. There seems to be dizzying levels of self regard from many brought before the inquiry and the lack of self awareness from some is incredible. The connections between so many of the DUP architects of the scheme and those who’ve benefited from it are overwhelming but the rapid closure of the scheme seems to have damaged trust in the Stormont institution and left many livelihoods at risk as a result.
January 23, 2020
A chilling (sic) book of complete and utter governmental incompetence with some corporate corruption chucked in to add some extra flavour.
All further soured by a civil service who assist in making everything worse.
Now that Stormont seems to be back on track, one would hope that politicians of whatever stripe have learned lessons from this affair. And I trust that whilst direct rule has been in place that the civil service have sorted themselves out too.
All further soured by a civil service who assist in making everything worse.
Now that Stormont seems to be back on track, one would hope that politicians of whatever stripe have learned lessons from this affair. And I trust that whilst direct rule has been in place that the civil service have sorted themselves out too.
February 6, 2020
Well done Sam McBride for this detailed exposure of the corruption/incompetence of those running this scheme at the heart of N.I.Govt. If there is any justice, criminal charges and disciplinary action needs to follow. I understood that having signed the Official Secrets Act any Civil/Public Servant caught leaking sensitive information to 3rd parties would be liable to prosecution. I awIt with great anticipation the publication of Sir Patrick Coughlan’s report on 13 March.
February 20, 2020
Brilliant but very depressing.
No party in NI comes out of this well. I'm in a little club of 10 and when we meet we take minutes. Frankly I'm disgusted with what this has revealed. I go into a church Anglican which has one of these boilers and the place is constantly heated. They should be ASHAMED of themselves.
No party in NI comes out of this well. I'm in a little club of 10 and when we meet we take minutes. Frankly I'm disgusted with what this has revealed. I go into a church Anglican which has one of these boilers and the place is constantly heated. They should be ASHAMED of themselves.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews