The Crumlin Road Courthouse in Belfast, Northern Ireland, is a historically significant structure that has played a pivotal role in the city's judicial and architectural heritage. Designed by the renowned architect Charles Lanyon, the courthouse was constructed between 1848 and 1850 in the Neo-Palladian classical style. It features a symmetrical façade with a prominent portico supported by Corinthian columns and is adorned with a sculpture representing justice by William Boyton Kirk. The building is strategically located opposite the Crumlin Road Gaol, to which it is connected via an underground tunnel.

Historical Significance

Upon its opening in the summer of 1850, the courthouse served as the County Antrim Courthouse. It became a central venue for significant legal proceedings, including high-profile cases during the Troubles. Notably, it was the site of the last execution in Northern Ireland in 1961, when Robert Andrew McGladdery was convicted and sentenced for the murder of Pearl Gamble . The courthouse also hosted major trials such as the 1983 "supergrass" trial, where 22 IRA suspects were jailed for a total of 4,000 years.

Decline and Attempts at Redevelopment

The courthouse ceased operations in June 1998 after nearly 150 years of continuous use. In 2003, it was sold to developer Barry Gilligan for £1 as part of a deal linked to the development of the new Laganside Courts. Gilligan's plans to convert the building into offices (Z/2003/1502/F) and later into a hotel (Z/2006/2127/F) did not materialise. In 2009, the courthouse suffered significant damage due to a series of fires, further complicating redevelopment efforts .

In 2017, the Liverpool-based Signature Living Group acquired the property with intentions to invest £25 million to transform it into a luxury hotel.

In June 2018, Signature Living submitted a planning application (LA04/2018/1650/F) proposing to convert Crumlin Road Courthouse into a hotel. These proposals included restoring the main courtroom and reopening the tunnel connecting to the Crumlin Road Gaol. This application was approved in December 2018. However, progress stalled, and the building was placed back on the market in 2019.

Future Proposals

In 2024, property investor David Mahon acquired the courthouse. Mahon has expressed intentions to preserve key historical features, such as Courtrooms 1 and 2, while considering redevelopment options that may include a hotel or apart-hotel . The building remains in a state of disrepair, having experienced a total of 25 fires since its closure in 1998, with most incidents deemed deliberate .

In May 2025, BBE (NI) Ltd, of which David Mahon is a director, submitted a Proposal of Application Notice (PAN) (LA04/2025/0714/PAN) proposing a comprehensive redevelopment of the Crumlin Road Courthouse. The plan includes partial demolition, restoration, adaptation, and alteration of the existing structure to create a mixed-use development. The proposed uses encompass hospitality facilities, heritage interpretation and tourism functions, residential accommodation, educational resources and crèche facilities, an educational campus, commercial office space, and integrated leisure, wellbeing, and health facilities. The development also plans for associated site works, parking provision, and new or altered access arrangements with boundary treatments and ancillary/construction works.