MARK PAUL

The death has taken place of David Courtney, a well-known property investor who came to prominence following his involvement in several boomtime deals such as the buyouts of Superquinn and the Shelbourne

Hotel in Dublin.

Mr Courtney, who was aged 52, was originally from Killarney in Kerry but lived near Ranelagh in Dublin. A former surveyor, he left the estate agency Lisney in the late 1980s to set up the consultancy Spain Courtney Doyle with with Bernard Doyle and Paddy Spain.

Mr Courtney and Mr Doyle were investors in the €400 million deal in 2005 to buy the Superquinn chain from the family of Feargal Quinn, whose supermarkets they had planned to redevelop.

Mr Courtney was also a member of the consortium that paid about €140 million for the Shelbourne in 2004, and later revamped the iconic property.

He had a property empire valued by some sources at up to €1 billion before the crash, with assorted investments including the Champions Sports retail chain and properties on Bond Street in London, which he bought with Mr Doyle.

Mr Courtney, who had been ill in recent weeks, died suddenly at his home on Sunday. He is survived by his wife Eileen and four children. He will be buried following a service in his native Killarney tomorrow.