Prison officer shot in Dublin

Brian Stack, chief prison officer at Portlaoise Prison, was shot in the back of the neck while crossing a street in Dublin after leaving a boxing match in nineteen eighty-three.

Stack left paralysed and died

Stack, a father of three, was left paralysed by the shooting and died eighteen months later, aged forty-nine. He was the only prison officer in the state killed by violence related to the Troubles.

Three investigations found no justice

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

State apology in parliament

Taoiseach Micheál Martin offered a formal apology on behalf of the state during a sitting of the Dáil on Wednesday. Stack's wife Sheila and sons Austin, Kieran and Oliver were present in the chamber.

One hundred ninety-four errors found

A serious crime review team examined the first investigation and found one hundred ninety-four errors and omissions.

Specific investigative failures listed

Martin detailed failures including loss of a crime scene map, a motorbike helmet found near the scene, custody of fingerprints and debris, and failure to document whether colleagues and prisoners were interviewed.

Martin calls failures utterly unacceptable

The Taoiseach said it was plainly and utterly unacceptable that material of potential evidential value could no longer be located by An Garda Síochána, and that these serious matters had an impact on the investigation.

“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.”

Stack brothers walk out on Sinn Féin

Austin Stack left the Dáil chamber when Sinn Féin TDs spoke, saying the party leader should address their concerns about their father's murder and that she did not dignify the family by attending.

Sinn Féin acknowledges IRA responsibility

Sinn Féin said the IRA acknowledged responsibility and expressed sorrow for Stack's death more than a decade ago, saying it should not have happened. The party welcomed the government apology for investigative failures.

IRA admitted killing in twenty thirteen

The IRA admitted killing Stack in twenty thirteen after his family mounted a long campaign.

Austin Stack says apology means a lot

Austin Stack told BBC Radio Ulster the apology means an awful lot to the family, providing comfort that the state is officially owning up to errors and omissions that happened during investigations.

“It means an awful lot to us. 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 omissions that happened.”

Case sent back for further investigation

In twenty nineteen, then garda commissioner Drew Harris apologised for handling of the investigation. In twenty twenty-three, gardaí told the family the file was being sent back to police for further investigation.