The death of Brian Stack, chief prison officer at Portlaoise Prison, has long been a painful reminder of the legacy of the Troubles. After being shot in the neck while leaving a boxing match in Dublin in 1983, Stack was left paralysed and died eighteen months later at the age of 49. His murder remains the only killing of a prison officer in the Republic linked to the conflict, and despite three separate Garda investigations, no one has ever been charged.
Why the apology matters
On a Wednesday sitting of the Dáil, Taoiseach Micheál Martin offered a formal apology on behalf of the state. The apology specifically addressed the "failings in investigations" that compounded the family’s suffering. Martin listed a series of procedural errors: loss of a crime‑scene map, failure to retain a motorbike helmet found near the scene, mishandling of fingerprint and other forensic material, and gaps in interviewing key witnesses – including Stack’s colleagues, prisoners, and his own family.
These omissions, Martin said, were "plainly and utterly unacceptable" and have hampered any chance of securing justice. The apology was received by Stack’s widow, Sheila, and his three sons – Austin, Kieran and Oliver – who were present in the chamber. Austin Stack later told BBC Radio Ulster that the apology "means an awful lot to us" and offers a measure of comfort, acknowledging that the state is finally "owning up to the errors and the omissions that happened".
Political reactions
Reactions in the Dáil were mixed. Sinn Féin TDs spoke after the apology, prompting the Stack brothers to leave the chamber in protest. Austin Stack called on Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald to address the family’s concerns, noting that the IRA’s responsibility had been acknowledged but that the party’s leader had not been present to offer a direct response.
McDonald, speaking from Belfast, welcomed the state apology and recalled the IRA’s earlier admission of responsibility and expression of sorrow in 2013. She said the IRA’s statements "were the right and the correct thing to do". Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant echoed the sentiment in the UK House of Commons, describing the apology as "entirely right and proper" and urging all parties to make "fulsome and not mealy‑mouthed apologies".
Historical context and ongoing inquiries
The Stack case has been revisited several times. In 2007, the Garda Commissioner ordered a review by the Serious Crime Review Team, which produced over 200 recommendations and identified more than 190 errors and omissions. Despite these findings, the family has repeatedly been denied access to the internal report, with officials citing its confidential status.
In 2019, then‑Garda Commissioner Drew Harris issued an apology for the handling of the investigation, and in 2023 the Director of Public Prosecutions returned the case file to the police for further review. Yet, as of the latest Dáil session, the file remains unresolved and the perpetrators have not been brought to justice.
What the apology does not resolve
While the state apology acknowledges procedural failures, it does not replace the need for a thorough, transparent investigation that could lead to prosecutions. The family continues to seek the missing investigation report and hopes that renewed political focus will finally bring the truth to light.
Key take‑aways:
- Brian Stack was killed by the IRA in 1983; his death remains the only killing of a prison officer in the Republic linked to the Troubles.
- Three Garda investigations failed to secure a conviction, and numerous investigative errors were later documented.
- The Taoiseach’s apology in the Dáil highlighted these failures and was welcomed by the family, though it did not resolve the underlying case.
- Political leaders across the spectrum, including Sinn Féin and the UK government, have expressed support for the apology while acknowledging the need for continued accountability.
For the Stack family, the apology represents a long‑awaited acknowledgment of state responsibility, but the quest for full truth and justice remains unfinished.
