The sister of murdered west Belfast greengrocer Harry Holland has spoken of her trauma at having to face a man convicted in connection with the killing — which prompted him to say he was “sorry”.

Tish Holland (54), a former Sinn Fein councillor, went to Lisburn Magistrates Court on Monday to face 19-year-old Patrick Crossan, who served two years in jail on charges connected with Mr Holland’s murder.

It was one month to the day after Crossan’s release from Hydebank Young Offenders’ Centre that he appeared in court for a string of motoring offences including aggravated vehicle taking and assaulting a police officer.

He was released from Hydebank after serving a sentence for attempted affray and possession of a knife in connection with Mr Holland’s death in September 2007.

Ms Holland said that, far from going to confront him, she wanted to speak to the judge about why Crossan, from Willowbank Gardens in Belfast, had been allowed to offend again.

“There were a number of reasons I made the trip to court. I wanted to say something to the judge. I wanted to make a point that this was an example of the revolving door of the so-called justice system and to see if he was going to get bail,” she said.

“I didn't really prepare what I was going to say but I just wanted to make it clear to her that here he was standing in front of the court again.

“I also wanted to thank her for remanding him in custody and not allowing him back into the community, which I think is a safer place without him.”

Dramatic scenes unfolded inside the court room after the clerk read the charges against Crossan and he was ordered to be remanded in custody.

Ms Holland spoke of her trauma at having to face one of the people linked to the murder of her beloved brother but she said she knew the day would come.

“The memories will never go away. We have to live with what he did day after day,” she said.

“And to think he was released, with no restrictions on him, to offend again makes us all feel sick. But we knew it was going to happen sooner or later.”