Fire at Crumlin Rd Courthouse deliberate

A fire at Belfast’s disused Crumlin Road Courthouse was believed today to have been started deliberately.

More than 40 firefighters prevented the 154-year-old building opposite the former Crumlin Road jail being destroyed last night.

Forensic experts were examining the building today to establish the cause of the fire and assess damage.

Police and fire officers tackling the blaze came under attack from a crowd of 15-20 stone throwers on a number of occasions, said a police spokesman.

One police officer suffered a minor injury when hit by a missile.

The court – which was the scene of some of the most infamous trials of the three decades of violence in Northern Ireland – is the subject of an ambitious plan to turn it into a major tourist attraction.

Developer and owner Barry Gilligan has drawn up a scheme to return the listed building to its 1850 glory.

Appealing to local youths not to target the building, he said: “There is always the risk of losing listed buildings which have been left vacant.

“I have a very important scheme under way. Things are progressing but I would like to see them progress more quickly.”

Architect Dawson Stelfox, who is involved in the regeneration project, said it was a key part of Belfast architectural heritage.

He said: “It is a very important building – the relationship between the courthouse and the jail is very much unique. It is a very fine building in its own right, particularly the interiors of the two courtrooms – we don’t know yet if they have been damaged.”

The court building and disused prison on the opposite side of the road are linked by an underground tunnel which was used to prevent prisoners appearing in court from escaping.