A PRIVATE investor has acquired the mainly boarded up Shankill shopping centre in south Dublin for around €6 million. It had been owned since 2007 by Select Retail Holdings, the ill-fated investment group which bought the Superquinn chain for €450 million.

The supermarket group was put into receivership before being bought by rival grocer Musgraves for €200 million.

Select Retail Holdings had apparently planned to open a large Superquinn store on the site of the Shankill shopping centre after buying it in an off-market deal in 2007. The group had control of most of the centre, including a supermarket extending to 1,400sq m (15,070sq ft) and six retail units.

The group did not own three other shops which continue to trade as a pharmacy, hair and beauty salon and a food takeaway.

The overall centre extends to 1,950sq m (21,000sq ft) and has 150 car-parking space on a site of 2.5 acres.

Damian McCaffrey of newly formed commercial agency Xavier McCaffrey, who handled the recent sale, said the new owner plans to refurbish the shopping centre and lease the various units to a wide range of traders with a good track record.

Available shops range in size from 52.5sq m (565sq ft) to 98sq m (1,055sq ft).

McCaffrey said the sale of the centre had attracted interest from owner-occupiers as well as Irish and overseas investors.