Hollands hold sentences meeting

Harry Holland died in hospital a day after he was stabbed near his home

The family of Harry Holland have met with the attorney general to discuss the sentences handed down to those involved in his murder.

Mr Holland, 65, was stabbed in the head with a screwdriver near his west Belfast home in September 2007.

The family was accompanied to the meeting with Baroness Scotland by Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams.

He said the attorney general had agreed to reflect on the points raised by the family and get back to them.

"The Holland family made a compelling case to the British attorney general about the inadequate way the PPS dealt with this case and in particular the way in which the charges against two of those involved were reduced," Mr Adams said.

He said both Baroness Scotland and the PPS "accepted the need for greater transparency within the judicial system and in particular how it engages with victims and their families".

"We intend to follow up on this."

In August, Baroness Scotland agreed to meet the family after she turned down a request to review the sentences given to his killers.

In July, 18-year-old Stephen McKee from Ballymurphy Road was told he must serve at least 12 years of a life sentence.

Two other teenagers were also sentenced in connection with the killing.

Patrick Crossan, from Willowbank Gardens in west Belfast, was sentenced to four years for attempted affray and having an offensive weapon.

A 17-year-old girl was placed on a probation order for two years after she admitted charges of affray and common assault.