Family of Brian Stack to receive State apology
Taoiseach Micheál Martin delivered a formal State apology to the family of Brian Stack, a prison officer murdered by the IRA in 1983. The government acknowledged serious investigative failings that hindered justice for decades.
Why it matters
State apologies for historical failures during the Troubles offer symbolic closure to grieving families while acknowledging institutional shortcomings in past murder investigations.
Prison officer Brian Stack was "badly failed" by the investigation into his murder in the 1980s, the Taoiseach has said as he delivered a State apology to his family.
Mr Stack, the chief prison officer in Portlaoise, was shot in the neck by the IRA in March 1983 and died 18 months later.
Micheál Martin delivered a State apology to the Stack family and said: "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."
The Stack family described the State apology as a "deeply emotional day for the family".
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