There has been widespread public sympathy over the past few days with the plight of the workers at Thomas Cook travel agents in Dublin. The action of the workers in occupying their workplace and taking a stand to save their jobs also has much wider implications. It has sent out an important signal that Irish workers are prepared to fight for their entitlements. Free article

Harry Holland was murdered in horrific circumstances in West Belfast in September 2007. A loving family man, his killing shocked the West Belfast community. There has been widespread community support for his family ever since the brutal murder, and throughout the subsequent trial. Widespread concerns have been expressed at the role of the North's Public Prosecution Service (PPS) in the Holland case - its failure to prosecute this case properly, the 'horse trading' that went on between the PPS and the defence representatives, the failure to keep the Holland family involved, and the judgement which interpreted the murder as surprising and spontaneous. Free article