Court injunction stops naming of controversial RHI scheme beneficiaries

A judge has issued an injunction temporarily banning the naming of beneficiaries of the RHI scheme.

The 'cash for ash' scandal is set to cost the Northern Ireland taxpayer £490m over the next 20 years if a solution is not found.

The aim of the scheme was to encourage businesses to use more renewable energy. Businesses taking part in the scheme ended up receiving more in funding than the cost of fuel and the scheme became oversubscribed.

The judge has prevented the publication of the names of members of Renewable Heat Association of Northern Ireland (RHANI) members involved in the scheme.

It is believed around 300 RHI recipients are members of the group.

The judge will decide next week whether RHANI can mount a full legal challenge to the publication of recipients.

While RHANI members cannot be named it is unclear if those involved in the RHI Scheme who are not members can be named by the Department for the Economy.

The Department for the Economy will receive a full list of the recipients of the scheme at 5pm today.