New owner brings hope for Crumlin Road Courthouse

Crumlin Road Courthouse has recently been acquired by property investor and prominent Orangeman David Mahon.

He has plans to preserve some of its historic features while proceeding with a project first launched by a previous owner and turn it into a hotel. “We’re hoping to redevelop it, but keeping Courtroom 1 and Courtroom 2. We’d turn it into a hotel or apart-hotel, maybe.”

Crumlin Road Courthouse, designed by Charles Lanyon and built in 1849, has lain empty since it stopped operating as a courthouse in 1998. It is part of a group of historic buildings in north Belfast including Crumlin Road Gaol, the Mater Hospital, St Malachy’s College, Clifton House and Carlisle Memorial. It was transferred into private ownership as part of the deal to develop the new Laganside Courthouse. It sits directly opposite Crumlin Road Gaol Visitor Centre, also the site of McConnell’s Whisky Distillery.

Ciarán Fox, Director of the RSUA said, “The building is of significant architectural and cultural importance but through neglect it is now in a terrible state. It is one of the worst examples of our Government disposing of an important civic asset to the private sector without any strings attached.”

“Out of 890 geographic areas in Northern Ireland, this building sits in the 18th most deprived. It is less than a mile away from the bustling Cathedral Quarter and has the potential, along with the gaol, to drive regeneration in the area and increase pressure to reconnect inner north Belfast to the city centre as an attractive walking route.”

 “A new owner brings fresh energy, enthusiasm and hopefully financial firepower. We look forward to seeing this wonderful building back in use before too long.”

The full article is available to read on the Belfast Telegraph’s website here. Please note, this article is behind a paywall.