'Face-to-Face' On Holland Sentence

A refusal by the Attorney General to review the sentences given to the killers of west Belfast greengrocer Harry Holland (pictured) has today been slammed.

The SDLP Equality Spokesperson Alex Attwood has said the decision will hit public confidence in the administration of justice. The West Belfast MLA said: "This is a deeply worrying development. I, and the community, will be at a loss to explain the decision of the Attorney General.

"It can only be much more difficult for the Holland family."

He said the Attorney General should now publish the information passed to her by the PPS in Belfast.

Speaking this morning he said: "The Attorney General must meet with those who have grievous concerns to explain this damaging decision."

The decision was also said to be "disappointing" by Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams, who this afternoon - after meeting the family to see what steps were open to them - revealed that the Attorney General had agreed to meet with him and the family to discuss the case.

Both the West Belfast Sinn Féin MP and the SDLP MLA were commenting after 18-year-old Stephen McKee, of Ballymurphy Road, Belfast, was sentenced last month to a minimum of 12 years for the murder of Mr Holland, while two other teenagers were also sentenced for charges related to the murder of Mr Holland close to his home two years ago.

Patrick Crossen, from Willowbank Gardens, was given four years for attempted affray and possessing an offensive weapon and a 17-year-old girl was placed on probation for two years after admitting affray and common assault.

The Holland family saw the sentences as too lenient and asked the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) to petition Attorney General Baroness Patricia Scotland for a sentence review.

Mr Adams said her refusal was "inadequate and deeply disappointing for the family of Harry Holland and for the west Belfast community".

He added: "The family and the community are justifiably angry at the sordid secret deal that was done between the PPS and those who carried out the murder which led to reduced changes and minimum sentences against two of the accused."

Earlier this week, the Attorney General replied to a letter from the MP and said: "What one asks of a prosecuting authority is that it acts fairly and competently.

"In this case the PPS only reached its decision on accepting pleas after taking the advice of Senior Counsel.

"I am satisfied that it acted fairly and competently in doing so."

The UK's most senior law figure also noted: "After careful consideration of the papers I was unable to conclude that the sentences imposed in this case were unduly lenient."

See: Teenage Girl Charged Over Greengrocer Killing

(BMcC/KMcA)