Murdered Laois prison officer and family 'badly failed' - Taoiseach's State Apology

Murdered Chief Officer Portlaoise Prison Brian Stack and his family were ‘badly failed’ badly failed by the investigation into his killing after he was shot by the Provisional IRA in 1983 according to An Taoiseach Micheál Martin’s State Apology to the family in the Dáil.

Speaking in the presence of Brian’s widow, Sheila, and his sons Austin, Kieran and Oliver, the Fianna Fáil leader also described as ‘plainly and utterly unacceptable’ the loss of potential evidence that could have helped bring to justice those who shot Mr Stack in March 1983, inflicting injuries that led to his death more than a year later.

Describing the Laois man as being ‘in the vanguard of the effort to defend the State against subversives’, Mr Martin insisted that an members of the PIRA are still in possession of all the facts of what happened and he shares their hope share your hope that justice may still come.

The Taoiseach's statement delivered on Wednesday, October 21 highlighted the shortcomings in the Garda efforts to find those responsible.

He said the facts surrounding the shooting were that the deceased was approached by a man wearing a balaclava on March 25 on leaving a boxing tournament in the National Stadium Dublin. The Taoiseach said Mr Stack was approached from behind and “shot in the neck”. The Dáil was told that his killer escaped with an accomplice on a motorbike.

The Dáil was reminded that Mr Stack succumbed to his injuries on 29 September 1984, aged just 49 years old.

Mr Martin said a major Garda investigation was established in 1983 but failed to identify those responsible. A review by the Garda Murder Squad in 1984 revealed ‘nothing of evidential value’, after which Mr Martin said the investigation ‘remained open but dormant’.

The Dáil heard that in 2007, at the family’s request, the Garda Commissioner directed a review of the case by the Garda Serious Crime Review Team. This review made 202 recommendations relating to the case, leading to the Garda Commissioner directing that an independent re-investigation team be appointed in the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation in 2008.

While Mr Martin said this brought a “fresh impetus” and new lines of enquiry and suspects, it also led to the identification of “serious failings and shortcomings” in the earlier garda investigation which were admitted by the Garda Commissioner to the Stack family in 2019.

He said a map made of the crime scene was not kept and a motorbike helmet found near the crime scene was also missing. Fingerprints, samples and debris gathered during the investigation were also not retained.

Mr Martin said there were failings around an identification lineup before eyewitnesses and whether prisoners and staff at Portlaoise Prison were interviewed.

While the Provisional IRA was strongly suspected, Gardaí failed to identify a definitive link until this was admitted to Austin and Oliver Stack by a former IRA commander in 2013.

Mr Martin said he as Taoiseach or any TD could not get involved in a criminal investigation, but he emphasised the mistakes made.

“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.

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

“When viewed in conjunction with the failure by An Garda Síochána to document those other aspects of the investigation that I have already highlighted, this failing raises legitimate concerns about how the investigation was conducted and whether it was done competently. This is an inherently unfair position to place the Stack family in, and today I also apologise for this,” he said.

The Taoiseach said Mr Stack joined the Prison Service in 1959 and progressed through its ranks to a senior uniformed role when Portlaoise Prison became the main place of detention in the State for subversive prisoners.

“Brian Stack served the State with great distinction and honour at a time when the endpoint of the Troubles still appeared to be remote. The challenges the State faced at this time were very significant, and prison officers like Brian were in the vanguard of the effort to defend the State against subversives that wished to undermine it during the conflict.

“Brian’s important service was recognised by the Irish Prison Service when it renamed the Prison Service College “Brian Stack House” and posthumously awarded him its highest bravery award, which was also renamed the “Stack Medal”,” said Mr Martin.

He added that Brian’s commitment to public service was carried on by his son Austin, who also served the State as an Assistant Governor in the Irish Prison Service.

The Taoiseach spoke of the deceased as a man who was at the ‘heart of his community’ through his involvement with Portlaoise GAA and Portlaoise Boxing Club.

“Today, as I extend this formal apology to the Stack family for the failings and shortcomings in the management of the Garda investigation into Brian’s death, I am conscious that this moment marks a significant milestone for you.

“Brian’s loss was immeasurable to you and your entire family and community circle. The pain you have endured has been lifelong.

“Today, in addition to the apology I have offered, I also want to thank and pay tribute to you for your dedication to that quest, and to your father, Brian. I share your hope that justice may still come.

“Sheila, Austin, Kieran and Oliver, it is through your dignity, your courage and your love that Brian Stack will not be forgotten. It is my sincere hope that the words I speak today on behalf of the Government may provide some measure of peace to you, he said.

Full text of Statement of Apology delivered to the Stack family by Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD, 21st October 2026 in Dáil Éireann BELOW PHOTO

Today, I would like to welcome to the Distinguished Visitors Gallery Sheila, Austin, Kieran and Oliver Stack, the wife and sons of Chief Prison Officer Brian Stack.

They have campaigned tirelessly to uncover the truth of what happened to Brian in March 1983 and to keep his memory and legacy alive following his death in September 1984.

Unforgivably, we still don’t have the full truth of, or any justice for what happened that day. But with the facts we have, we know it was a very dark day in our country’s history.

On the night of 25th March 1983, Brian Stack attended a boxing tournament at the National Stadium in Dublin. He was a very senior prison officer who was serving the State with great distinction, and the father of a young family.

He was leading a full and meaningful life. A man in his prime of life.

But on leaving the venue, Brian was approached by a man wearing a balaclava. He was approached from behind. He was shot in the neck.

Brian survived the shooting but was left paralysed and brain-damaged, and, after fighting on bravely for 18 months, he succumbed to his injuries on 29 September 1984. He was just 49 years old.

His killer escaped with an accomplice on a motorbike and, to date, no one has been brought to justice for Brian’s murder.

We know now, because of the work of his family, that Brian was targeted and shot by members of the Provisional IRA, an organisation still in possession of all the facts of what happened. It’s important to put these facts on the record, because I know from Brian’s family that they do not want any confusion in the public mind about who was responsible for his killing.

Those who shot him, transported the killer and covered for them in the intervening decades are responsible. What happened next is why Brian’s family is with us this afternoon and why I am here to offer them an apology on behalf of the Government.

Because Brian and his family, a man who was providing a hugely important service for as Chief Officer at Portlaoise Prison, at a time of great peril for the State, was badly failed by the investigation into his killing.

A major garda investigation was established after the shooting in March 1983 but this failed to identify those responsible. Upon Brian’s death in September 1984, the case was reviewed by the Garda Murder Squad but nothing of evidential value was found. After this point, the investigation into Brian’s killing remained open but dormant.

In 2007, at the request of the Stack family, the Garda Commissioner directed a review of the case by the Garda Serious Crime Review Team. This review made 202 recommendations relating to the cases, leading to the Garda Commissioner directing that an independent re-investigation team be appointed in the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation in 2008.

Although this brought a fresh impetus to the investigation and led to the identification of new lines of enquiry and suspects, it also led to the identification of a number of serious failings and shortcomings in the management of the earlier garda investigation.

These failings were admitted by the Garda Commissioner to the Stack family in 2019, and my formal apology on behalf of the Government in this House today relates to those failings.

They are:

• a failure to keep a map made of the crime scene;
• a failure to keep a motorbike helmet found near the crime scene and linked to the crime; and
• a failure to keep custody of material exhibits, including various fingerprints, samples and debris gathered during the investigation.

In addition to this, there was a failure to document some potentially important aspects of the original investigation, such as:

• whether an identification lineup process was conducted before eyewitnesses in relation to a number of people that were arrested during the original investigation;
• whether prisoners at Portlaoise Prison were interviewed during the original investigation;
• whether Brian’s colleagues at Portlaoise Prison were interviewed during the original investigation.

Furthermore, there was a failure to carry out certain steps in the investigation which the Stack family considers particularly relevant and important to the case, and would now be considered part and parcel of a victim-centred approach to policing.

These were:

• to interview the Stack family; and
• to interview Brian’s wider group of friends.

Although it is clear that there was a strong suspicion of Provisional IRA involvement on the part of investigators both in the original investigation in the 1980s and the reinvestigation since 2008, there was a failure by Gardaí to identify a definitive link to the Provisional IRA in the shooting until this was admitted to Austin and Oliver Stack by a former IRA commander in 2013 through their own family efforts to uncover the truth.

It was also the Stack family who brought to light the existence of relevant intelligence received by An Garda Síochána in 1990 and brought it to the attention of the re-investigation team in 2016. It was not recorded on the original investigation file.

An Garda Síochána is independent in its functions, and it is not for me as Taoiseach or for any other member of this House to insert themselves into any criminal investigation.

However, 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.

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

When viewed in conjunction with the failure by An Garda Síochána to document those other aspects of the investigation that I have already highlighted, this failing raises legitimate concerns about how the investigation was conducted and whether it was done competently. This is an inherently unfair position to place the Stack family in, and today I also apologise for this.

But I know from talking to the Stack family over many years that the hope for justice endures.

Since 2007, the garda investigation into the murder of Brian has continued to progress and I understand that in 2019 a comprehensive file was submitted to the DPP for decision.

Although the outcome of this was that no charges could be brought against any suspect at that time, I am informed that An Garda Síochána continues to pursue live lines of enquiry in the case and is making every effort to bring those responsible to justice, and I know that Garda liaison continues with the Stack family in this regard.

Brian Stack joined the Prison Service in 1959 and progressed through its ranks to a senior uniformed role when Portlaoise Prison became the main place of detention in the State for subversive prisoners.

Brian Stack served the State with great distinction and honour at a time when the endpoint of the Troubles still appeared to be remote.

The challenges the State faced at this time were very significant and prison officers like Brian were in the vanguard of the effort to defend the State against subversives that wished to undermine it during the conflict.

Brian’s important service was recognised by the Irish Prison Service when it renamed the Prison Service College “Brian Stack House” and posthumously awarded him its highest bravery award, which was also renamed the “Stack Medal”.

Outside of work, Brian was at the heart of his community and a keen sportsman, referee and organiser at Portlaoise GAA and Portlaoise Boxing Club.

Brian’s commitment to public service was carried on by his son Austin, who also served the State as an Assistant Governor in the Irish Prison Service.

Today, as I extend this formal apology to the Stack family for the failings and shortcomings in the management of the garda investigation into Brian’s death, I am conscious that this moment marks a significant milestone for you.

Brian’s loss was immeasurable to you and your entire family and community circle. The pain you have endured has been lifelong.

Many in this House will already be familiar with your campaign and your tireless advocacy.

Today, in addition to the apology I have offered, I also want to thank and pay tribute to you for your dedication to that quest, and to your father Brian. I share your hope that justice may still come.

Sheila, Austin, Kieran and Oliver, it is through your dignity, your courage and your love that Brian Stack will not be forgotten. It is my sincere hope that the words I speak today on behalf of the Government may provide some measure of peace to you.

I am deeply sorry for what you have been through.

Go raibh maith agaibh.