Philip Johnston (estate agent)
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Philip Johnston is a former estate agent from Belfast, Northern Ireland. Until April 2005 Johnston operated a successful estate agency, concentrating on east Belfast.
In April 2005 Johnston was arrested on suspicion of money laundering. Former Ulster Defence Association leader Jim Gray had been arrested three days earlier, along with Gray's then girlfriend Sharon Moss. The three were suspected to be using Johnston's property business to launder money from Gray's criminal activities. Central to the allegations was a luxury property Gray was renting from Johnston at Cherry Tree Walk in Cherryvalley.[1] Johnston also purchased The Avenue One bar on the Newtownards Road from Gray for redevelopment.
In October 2005 Gray was shot dead at his father's home in east Belfast, after being expelled from the UDA.
In August 2006 all charges against Johnston were dropped without explanation from the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland. After his arrest Johnston was forced to sell his business and was expelled from the National Association of Estate Agents. The case was raised with the Police Ombudsman.[2] His former business was subject to a management buyout, and now operates as MCW Residential.
In 2007 BBC Northern Ireland screened House Traders, a documentary series on Johnston's business.
In April of 2008, Johnston bought back three of his former estate agency offices in East Belfast.[3]
