Brian Stack's family to receive formal State apology

The family of a prison officer who was murdered by the IRA over 40 years ago is scheduled to receive a formal State apology in the Dáil on Wednesday for failings in the subsequent investigations into his killing.

Brian Stack, who was the Chief Prison Officer at Portlaoise Prison, died 18 months after he was shot in the neck as he left a boxing match in Dublin on 25 March 1983.

The Provisional IRA later claimed responsibility for the shooting, but no one has ever been brought to justice.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin is expected to offer the Stack family a full and unreserved apology on behalf of the State for the failings in three separate garda investigations into the prison officer's murder.

The Cabinet will also discuss and approve the formal State apology to the Stack family at its meeting tomorrow.

Brian Stack's son, Austin, has been involved in a long campaign to try get justice for what happened to his father.

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

Details of the apology will be discussed and finalised at a meeting of the Oireachtas Committee on Business today, with the apology currently slated to take place at 1.30pm on Wednesday.

Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan is also scheduled to address the House on the matter.

Prior to the Dáil proceedings, the Stack family will hold a private meeting at Government Buildings with Mr Martin and Mr O'Callaghan.

It is understood Austin Stack and Mr Martin have been in contact since the Coalition entered office in early 2025 about the possibility of a formal apology in the Dáil.

In correspondence to Mr Stack last month, the 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.

Speaking to RTÉ News last night, Austin Stack said: "This is a significant day for us, we have been looking for this since 2019 when we received an apology from Drew Harris. We have written to various taoisigh and are so grateful this is now happening."

"This will bring great comfort to my mother," he added.

In 2023, gardaí told the family that the file on the case - which was with the DPP - was being sent back to gardaí for further investigation.

It is understood matters have not progressed with the investigation since.