More than 40 years after his death, the family of the late Chief Prison Officer of Portlaoise Prison, Brian Stack, will receive a formal state apology in relation to the mishandling of three separate Garda investigations into his murder.
Brian Stack was shot outside the National Boxing Stadium by the Provisional IRA in Dublin in March 1983 and died 18 months later. Nobody was ever brought to justice for the killing.
Brian Stack’s son Austin campaigned extensively on the issue and published a book last year, ‘Justice for my Father’.
In the book he described his frustration in dealing with the state, the flawed investigations, a face to face with Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams and a meeting – following a journey in a blacked-out van – with the IRA.
Taoiseach, Micheál Martin will deliver the apology this Wednesday in Dáil Éireann.
The then Garda Commissioner, Drew Harris, issued an apology to the family in July 2019 and since then the family have been pressing for a formal State apology.
After the formation of the current Government the family began working closely with The Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Jim O’Callaghan, in relation to this matter and it received Government approval last month.
Following this the Taoiseach issued the family with a written apology and provided the family with a date for the formal State apology.
In correspondence to Mr Stack last month, the Taoiseach and Fianna Fáil leader said: “I want to acknowledge the profound pain, frustration and delay your family has endured over many years.”
“The patience, dignity and perseverance you and your family have shown is commendable, and I sincerely hope the apology will bring a degree of comfort to your mother as she experiences difficult times with ill health,” he added.
Brian Stack is survived by his wife Sheila and his three sons – Austin, Kieran and Oliver – who will all make the trip to Government Buildings and the Dáil on Wednesday.
The family will have a private meeting with the Taoiseach and Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration at noon in Government Buildings prior to the apology.
SEE ALSO – LoveLaois Podcast: Austin Stack on his new book ‘Justice for My Father’
