FORMER Cork property developer Greg Coughlan has died.

From Ballydehob, Coughlan was the co-founder of Howard Holdings, one of the country’s most successful development firms during the Celtic Tiger years.

He developed numerous projects in Cork including the Webworks building, the City Hall car-park, and Cork’s City Quarter and boardwalk, which comprised of the Clarion Hotel and offices.

Howard Holdings’ Atlantic Quarter development — a 200-bed hotel, four huge office buildings, and a 5,500-capacity events centre — was granted permission in 2009 but never proceeded due to the economic crash.

In 2010, a bench warrant was issued for Mr Coughlan for contempt of court orders directing him to supply a statement of his assets to investors pursuing him for €28.1m. Since then he was understood to divide his time between London and Portugal.

Cork estate agent Maurice Cohalan, director of Cohalan Dowling, worked with Mr Coughlan on a number of occasions.

He described him as “one of nature’s true gentleman”.

“He contributed substantially to the development of Cork. He was 20 years ahead of everyone really.”