Taoiseach Micheál Martin has issued a formal State apology to the family of Brian Stack, the former chief prison officer at Portlaoise Prison who was shot by the IRA in 1983.
Mr Stack was shot in the neck outside the National Stadium in Dublin in March 1983, leaving him paralysed and brain-damaged. He died from his injuries 18 months later, in September 1984, aged 47.
He was the only prison officer murdered in the State during the Troubles.
Delivering the apology in the Dáil, Mr Martin acknowledged serious shortcomings in the Garda investigation, which failed to bring those responsible to justice.
“Brian and his family – a man who was providing a hugely important service as chief officer at Portlaoise Prison at a time of great peril for the State – was badly failed by the investigation into his killing,” he said.
The Taoiseach outlined a series of investigative failures, including the loss of potentially important evidence such as a crime scene map, a motorbike helmet linked to the shooting and other exhibits.
He also highlighted shortcomings in the recording of interviews and intelligence gathered during the investigation.
A review of the case in 2007 resulted in 202 recommendations and prompted a fresh investigation the following year, which identified further failings.
The IRA did not acknowledge responsibility for Mr Stack’s murder until 2013, following efforts by his sons Austin and Oliver to uncover the truth.
“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,” Mr Martin said.
“As Taoiseach, and on behalf of the Government, I want to formally apologise to the Stack family for these failings.”
Mr Stack’s wife Sheila and sons Austin, Kieran and Oliver were present in the Dáil for the apology.
Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan also apologised, describing Mr Stack as a man whose life was characterised by public service.
Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty welcomed the apology and acknowledged the suffering caused by the IRA’s actions.
“The shooting of Brian Stack was wrong; it should never have happened,” he said.
Despite decades of campaigning by the Stack family, nobody has been convicted of the murder.
The Taoiseach confirmed that Gardaí continue to pursue active lines of inquiry in the case.
“Unforgivably, we still don’t have the full truth of or any justice for what happened that day,” he said.
