As Stephen McKee, 18, was taken from the dock of court 12 at the Crown Court, family and friends of the murdered pensioner reacted in fury as they held pictures of the much-loved father and grandfather up to the glass partition separating the court from the public gallery.
Uniformed police and court security staff formed a human barrier between Mr Holland's family and the relatives of McKee, Patrick Crossan, 18, and a 17-year-old girl who cannot be named as accusations were slung back and forth between the families.
As Mr Justice Weir delivered his damning verdict, McKee was seen wiping tears from his eyes.
After being jailed for four years for affray, Crossan apologised to Mr Holland's family as he was led to the cells.
While the warring familes slung insults, the teenage girl sat weeping in the body of the court, flanked by her solicitor who comforted her.
'Wicked crime'
Earlier Mr Justice Weir had told McKee, from the Ballymurphy Road in Belfast, that his "wicked crime" in killing the "well-known and much-loved" Mr Holland had left his family "shattered".
"You have destroyed this family centre and with it, its happiness and it's not at all clear that at least for some of the family members, that it will ever repair," said the judge.
He told McKee, who also pleaded guilty to affray and a series of other charges including possessing the screwdriver, making threats to kill and assaults, that he will receive no remission on the 12-year term and that it will be for the parole commissioners board to decide "if and when" he is to be released.
The judge warned him that even if he is released, "you will for the remainder of your life be liable to be recalled to prison if you do not comply with the terms of your licence".
Both Crossan, from Willowbank Gardens in Belfast, and the teenage girl had originally been charged with the murder as well, but they both pleaded guilty to a charge of affray while Crossan also pleaded to possessing a knife on the night of the attack.
Mr Justice Weir handed down a four year custodial term to Crossan.
Turning to the 17-year-old girl, the judge said that her behaviour on that fateful night had been "utterly disgraceful" but that her involvement was less serious than the other two.
He said that having read the probation report, there was hope that she could "make something of her life" and so after she consented, the judge imposed a two-year probation programme.
Mr Justice Weir said that on the night he was killed in September 2007, Mr Holland had been at a local pub quiz but that on his way back home, "he had the great misfortune to encounter you three" who had been drinking in and around the Ballymurphy and Falls Park area.
He was stabbed in the head with a screwdriver near his home in Norfolk Drive.
He was rushed to hospital but despite medical efforts to save him, was pronounced dead 22 hours later.
'Appalled'
Outside the court, Harry Holland's daughter read a statement on behalf of the family.
Sarah Holland said her father's killing had been a murder waiting to happen.
"They harassed and harangued him, punched a screwdriver through his head, left him to die in the street, threw beer bottles at him and laughed as they ran away.
"Stephen McKee, his murderer, texted a friend saying, 'I have killed someone', and added in text LOL, LOL, which means Laugh Out Loud in text language"
"In truth not one of the culprits of the crime have got their just desserts. We are particularly appalled that one of the gang involved, the young girl, walked free.
"Contrary to the remarks of the judge there has been an utter lack of remorse shown by all the culprits for our father's murder from the start.
"Did any of those stand up in court address our family and say they were sorry? No they didn't."
The Holland family are now looking at the possibility of legal action against the Public Prosecution Service.