jquery

$(".catlink").click(function(event){
	var $this = $(this);

	if($("#category_id").val() == ""){
		$this.addClass("catlink-selected");

		$.get("getcatlist.php", {parent_category_id: $this.attr('name')}, function(data){
			$this.parent().after(data); //doesnt works
			// $(".category").after(data); // works
		});

		$("#category_id").val( $this.attr('name') );
	}
}




html


<tr>
              <td>Category:</td>
              <td>
                <ul class="category">
                                    <li class="catlink" name="2">Phone</li>
                                      <li class="catlink" name="3">Accessory</li>

                                  </ul>
                <input id="category_id" type="hidden" name="category_id" value=""/>
              </td>
            </tr>