Family of prison officer killed by IRA receives state apology

ByFiona Murray BBC News NI. 21 October 2026, 06: 21 BST.

Key points

• In 2007 the Garda Commissioner directed a review of the case by the Garda Serious Crime Review Team.
• Speaking to BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster programme Brian Stack's son, Austin Stack, remarked the apology "means an awful lot to us".
• Speaking in the Commons during Northern Ireland questions on Wednesday, Secretary of State Sir Chris Bryant remarked he "warmly welcomed" the taoiseach making the apology.
• According to A Sinn Féin spokesperson, "in a 2013 statement, a former IRA leader acknowledged that IRA volunteers were responsible for Brian Stack's killing".
• Stack, who was the chief prison officer at the high-security Portlaoise Prison, was left paralysed and died 18 months afterwards, aged 49.

For context, the family of a senior Irish prison officer murdered by the IRA has received a state apology on Wednesday for failings in investigations into his killing.

After leaving a boxing match in 1983, when he was shot in the back of the neck, brian Stack, a father of three, was crossing a street in Dublin.

There were three separate garda (Irish police) investigations into Stack's death, but no-one was brought to justice for his killing.

Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Micheál Martin offered an apology on behalf of the state during a sitting of the Dáil (Irish parliament).

Stack's wife Sheila and her sons Austin, Kieran and Oliver were in the Dáil chamber for the apology.

Martin remarked the Provisional IRA is "still in the possession of all the facts" on this case. Apology means 'an awful lot'.

"It's a great sense of comfort, to particularly my mother and to myself and my two brothers, because the state is officially owning up to the errors and the missions that happened, " he remarked.

He continued that the serious crime review team looked into the first investigation and "they found 194 errors and omissions".

So I have, and my family have, met with a number of ministers for justice down through the years and we have a requested sight of that report.

"And every time we've requested it, we've been told that it's an internally valid document and that we cannot see it."

According to Austin Stack, wednesday would be a highly emotional day for his family.

"My dad was doing a very difficult job at a very difficult time in our history, " he remarked.

"He was awarded the Irish Prison Service's highest bravery award for that work that he was doing. And this is further vindication of him and his good name."

Prior to the Dáil proceedings, the Stack family held a private session at administration buildings with the taoiseach and Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan.

In 2007 the Garda Commissioner directed a review of the case by the Garda Serious Crime Review Team. Over 200 recommendations were created relating to the cases.

This review led to "serious failings" being discovered as well as "the shortcomings in the management" of the earlier Garda investigation.

These failures, listed by Martin in the Dáil, are: failure to keep a map created of the crime scene, a failure to keep a motorbike helmet identified near the crime scene and linked to the crime, a failure to keep custody of material exhibits, including various fingerprints, samples and debris gathered during the investigation.

For context, the taoiseach additionally stated there was a failure to document some potentially significant aspects of the original investigation, including whether Brian's colleagues at Portlaoise Prison were interviewed and whether prisoners at the prison were interviewed.

There was additionally a failure to interview the Stack family and to interview Brian's wider group of friends.

It is plainly and utterly unacceptable that material that was potentially of evidential value to the investigation can no longer be located by An Garda Síochána.

"It is admitted by An Garda Síochána that these are serious matters that had an impact on the investigation, " Martin remarked.

"As Taoiseach, and on behalf of the Government, I want to formally apologise to the Stack family for these failings."

Asked regarding the matter by Democratic Unionist Party leader Gavin Robinson, Sir Chris stated Dublin doing so was "entirely right and proper" and went to the heart of discussions MPs had been having this week as they debated the government's Troubles legacy bill.

He continued that it was "incumbent on all of us to make fulsome and not mealy-mouthed apologies".

Notably, the IRA admitted killing Stack in 2013 after his family mounted a long campaign to secure the admission, and met Sinn Féin's Gerry Adams and a former IRA commander.

Adams, at that time, expressed his "regret" to the Stack family over the killing.

"The statement said the shooting had not been authorised by the IRA leadership, accepted IRA responsibility for his death, said it should not have happened and expressed sorrow for the pain and hurt suffered by the family."

For context, the spokesperson continued: "As republicans, we acknowledge the hurt caused by republican actions. That suffering cannot be disowned. We are sorry for all the lives lost during the period of conflict on this island, without exception."

Irish foreign affairs minister Helen McEntee additionally spoke during the State apology, she stated: "The State failed you during their investigation into Brian's killing."

She remarked Brian was "targeted" by the Provisional IRA and stated "they are responsible".

"To Sheila and to all of the Stack family, we are deeply sorry for all that you have endured, for the failures of the investigation and the extra suffering they have caused you, we are deeply sorry. I hope today's formal apology brings some measure of peace and comfort."

Donegal Sinn Féin TD (member of Irish parliament) Pearse Doherty remarked the Stack's family "long search for answers deserves respect".

"No apology can restore Brian Stack's life or return the years spent seeking answers but it can recognise the wrong done."

He remarked the failures of the garda investigation "compounded" the suffering of the Stack family.

In 2019, the family received an apology from then garda commissioner Drew Harris in relation to the handling of the investigation into the murder.

Taken together, the developments around family of prison officer killed by IRA receives state apology point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.