A historic courthouse in Belfast has been extensively damaged in a suspected overnight arson attack.
The Crumlin Road Court, which closed for business in 1998, has been targeted before, the last time in March this year.
The Fire and Rescue Service said today a large amount of damage had been caused throughout the listed building by the blaze, which they fought for seven hours from shortly after 11pm.
Michael Graham of the Fire and Rescue Service said: ‘We believe the fire was started deliberately. There is a large amount of damage right through the property - the vast majority of the centre section of the roof is completely burned away.
‘Due to the skill of the fire fighters we managed to prevent it spreading through the entire property.’
The Police Service said they too suspected the fire was started deliberately, but because of concerns over the safety of the building engineers had been called in to carry out an examination before anyone searched to confirm the fire was arson.
The Grade B listed building, designed by Sir Charles Lanyon, opened in 1850 and was the scene of many hundreds of terrorist trials through the first three decades of the Troubles.
A tunnel leads from the dock of No 1 court under the road to the Crumlin Road prison which is also closed and is now a tourist attraction.
In March this year another arson attack resulted in the destruction of some 40% of the court building, but its ornate facade was preserved.
