A CHARITY that works to regenerate historic buildings said it is "deeply saddened" by a deliberate fire at the former Crumlin Road courthouse in north Belfast.
The Belfast Buildings Trust said it was "hugely troubling to see yet another fire cause yet more damage to the building, and especially to hear that it has been started deliberately."
The heritage-led regeneration charity also said everyone in Belfast "now has a responsibility to make sure that we double our efforts to find a long-term use for the Crumlin Road courthouse".
Around 25 fire-fighters, three appliances and an aerial appliance attended the scene of the blaze shortly before 3am yesterday.
The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service said the cause is believed to be "deliberate ignition".
Police also attended the scene and have appealed for information.
The Crumlin Road courthouse, designed by Sir Charles Lanyon in the 1840s, is one of Northern Ireland's most distinctive buildings. It was closed in 1998, after nearly 150 years of use and connected via an underground passageway with Crumlin Road jail.
The listed building, which has planning permission to be converted to a hotel, was put on the market by Liverpool developer Signature Living in 2019.
Shane Quinn from Belfast Buildings Trust (BBT) last night said despite the blaze, they "remain convinced that a suitable use can regenerate the building".
"It is hugely troubling to see yet another fire cause yet more damage to the building, and especially to hear that it has been started deliberately," he said.
"We thank NI Fire and Rescue Service for their quick actions.
"The courthouse’s physical history and the personal stories associated with it say so much about Belfast.
"BBT has worked with various agencies and owners over the years. We obviously need to wait and assess the full extent of the damage, but we remain convinced that a suitable use can regenerate the building and be a catalyst for wider regeneration in north Belfast.
"Unfortunately, we’ve grown all too used to historic buildings in the city being destroyed by fire. But, as we saw after the Bank Buildings fire, historic buildings are often at the very heart of our city’s lives and hold huge meaning for people. We all have to recognise that heritage buildings aren’t about the past.
"Everyone in Belfast now has a responsibility to make sure that we double our efforts to find a long-term use for the Crumlin Road Courthouse.
"No building is beyond saving.
"The Trust believes that whilst last night’s fire is devastating for the city to wake up to, with determination and the involvement of local people, we can make sure heritage is at the heart of our city’s regeneration."
