Donegal Orange Order leader buys Crumlin Road Courthouse

The leading Orangeman in Donegal, David Mahon, has bought the Crumlin Road Courthouse in Belfast.

A native of Ballintra, now living in Kesh, County Fermanagh, Mr Mahon is the Grand Master of the County Donegal Grand Orange Lodge.

The 68-year-old leads the annual Orange Order parade in Rossnowlagh every July.

The property developer's company, David Mahon Properties Ltd, which already owns a series of shopping malls in Northern Ireland, has now bought the derelict Crumlin Road Courthouse.

The listed building was the scene for some major trials during the Troubles and is linked to Crumlin Road Gaol by an underground tunnel, which was used to transfer prisoners.

The courthouse was built in 1850 and ceased to function as a court in 1998.

The building, initially designed by Charles Lanyon, fell into disrepair and was damaged by a series of arson attacks.

In 2017, the Crumlin Road Courthouse was bought by Signature Living, a Liverpool-based group for a rumoured £0.5million.

While the company had plans to spend £25m, Signature Living went into liquidation and the courthouse was put back on the market.

The sale price to David Mahon Properties Ltd has not been disclosed.

It is understood that Mr Mahon hopes to turn it into a hotel. Previously, in 2018, planning permission was given for the building to be turned into a 55-room hotel with a bar, restaurant and a series of other on-site amenities.

David Mahon Properties Ltd owns several significant properties including Kings Square Shopping Mall in Belfast, the De Courcy Centre in Carrickfergus, Larne's Murrayfield Shopping Centre and the Linen Green Shopping Village in Dungannon, which was added to its portfolio this year.

Unaudited abridged accounts for the year ending June 29, 2023 show that the company had current assets of over £9.6m.

Donegal Live attempted to contact Mr Mahon for comment.