Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
PSNI FAILED TO RESPOND OVER HARRY STAB MOB
Ombudsman reveals blunders on 999 calls
THE PSNI “failed to adequately respond” to 999 calls made before the fatal stabbingharry of tragic greengrocer Harry Holland, the Ombudsman has found. The pensioner died after a vicious attack by screwdriver-wielding thug Stephen
Mckee in September 2007. The killing of the hugely-respected dad of four sent shockwaves across Belfast. The Police Ombudsman’s report into the killing has substantiated a complaint by Mr Holland’s widow Pauline about how officers responded to the emergency alerts. One has been “subject to disciplinary action for the failure to prioritise the call”. The findings also pointed to a “significant failing” in the PSNI’S response to a chain of events leading up to the killing in West Belfast. It’s been revealed concerns had been raised about an individual in the community but police “failed to take appropriate steps to respond to the concerns for safety”. In 2009, a court was told Mr Holland, who had been at a pub quiz, saw three youths acting suspiciously and decided to get into his van to investigate. As he drove past, Mckee struck the van and Mr Holland stopped to get out. He was met with an abusive tirade from the group in the Norfolk Drive area. A witness told how Mr Holland pleaded: “I’m an old age pensioner, I’m too old for this, we don’t want any hassle, calm down”. When he tried to retreat to his van, a 17-year-old girl pushed the driver’s door closed before Mckee struck him. Mr Holland was pronounced dead 22 hours after being stabbed. Mckee, who was 16 when he carried out the murder, was given a prison sentence of 12 years. Patrick Crossan, of Willowbank Gardens in West Belfast, was sentenced to four years for attempted affray and having an offensive weapon. He was released from prison in 2009. Sinn Fein MP Paul Maskey has written to PSNI Chief Constable George Hamilton on the back of the publication of the report. Mr Maskey met with the Holland family, who raised their concern over emergency response times. The West Belfast representative said: “On the day Harry Holland was murdered, the Upper Springfield Community Safety Forum and the PSNI met, during which concerns were raised about a gang in the area. “The Safety Forum was assured by the police they would react with urgency if members of the public reported the gang. “However, on the night of Harry’s murder two emergency calls were made to the police service at 10.05pm and 11.17pm, both calls mentioned an armed and dangerous gang were in the area threatening people. The first call was downgraded to nonemergency status, a crew did go out for the second call. “However, questions have been raised over the thoroughness of their search. “In his report the Ombudsman found the police failed to adequately respond to a 999 call made on the night that Harry Holland was murdered, stating they failed to take appropriate steps to respond to the concerns for safety. “On the back of these findings I have written to the PSNI Chief Constable George Hamilton asking for a breakdown of emergency response times for West Belfast. “Our policing spokesperson Gerry Kelly will also follow up with questions to the PSNI.”
Police said they would react with urgency if a member of the public reported the gang PAUL MASKEY WEST BELFAST YESTERDAY