Appeal for information as PSNI probe ‘deliberate blaze’ in Crumlin Road courthouse

The incident, which is being investigated as deliberate, started shortly before 3am.

This morning police in north Belfast appealed for anyone with information about the fire to contact them.

In a statement they said they received a report around 2.55am on Monday morning of a fire at the building. NIFRS attended and extinguished the fire which is being treated as deliberate at this time.

They added: “Officers would ask anyone with information which could assist them with their enquiries to contact police at Tennent Street on 101 quoting reference number 213 01/06/20.

“Alternatively, information can also be provided to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 which is 100% anonymous and gives people the power to speak up and stop crime. You can also make a report using our online non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/”.

Earlier Brian Stanfield, NIFRS Area Commander said: “We received the call at 3am this morning and four pumps and one aerial appliance were involved.

“The fire started in the old courtroom of the building.

“Our crews remain at the scene and will be there for quite some time.

“There was no spread to local residential properties.

“An investigation is now underway and we are treating this as deliberate at this stage.”

Police say they were alerted to the incident at 2.54am.

The courthouse closed in 1998.

It was in use for around 150 years and connected via an underground passageway with Crumlin Road Gaol.

The grisly crimes of the Shankill Butchers, the “supergrass” trials, that of senior loyalist and peace process figure Gusty Spence and Shankill Road IRA bomber Sean Kelly were held there.

It has planning permission to be converted into a hotel and has been put up for sale by Liverpool developer Signature Living.