THE Grand Master of the County Donegal Grand Orange Lodge has bought a courthouse in Belfast.
David Mahon, who is also a property developer, is understood to have purchased the famous Crumlin Road Courthouse, a major north Belfast landmark.
Mr Mahon is a native of Ballintra. He now lives in Kesh in County Fermanagh.
The 68-year-old is a very familiar face locally, as he leads the annual Orange Order parade in Rossnowlagh every July. He is believed to own several shopping centres in Northern Ireland via his company, David Mahon Properties Ltd.
Crumlin Road Courthouse stopped functioning as a court back in 1998 after nearly 150 years of use. The 19th century listed building has fallen into a serious state of disrepair following years of neglect and is covered in overgrown weeds.
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.
Designed by Charles Lanyon, the building was previously damaged by a series of arson attacks.
The sale price to David Mahon Properties Ltd has not been disclosed.
While future plans for the building are not yet known, it is believed
Mr Mahon wishes to turn it into a hotel.
Planning permission had been granted in 2018 for the iconic building to be transformed in a 55-room hotel with a bar, restaurant and a series of other on-site amenities.
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