Brian Stack’s family scheduled to receive State apology in Dáil
Taoiseach Micheál Martin is expected to apologise on Wednesday for failings in investigations into the prison officer’s killing, RTÉ reported.
Brian Stack’s family is scheduled to receive a formal Irish State apology in the Dáil on Wednesday, 21 October, for failings in investigations into the prison officer’s 1983 killing, RTÉ reported on Sunday. The planned apology would be a further acknowledgement for a family that received an apology from the Garda Commissioner in 2019.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin is expected to deliver the apology on behalf of the State, while Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan is also scheduled to address the Dáil, according to RTÉ. The family is due to meet both men privately at Government Buildings before the parliamentary proceedings.
The Dáil proceedings were provisionally set for 1:30 p.m. Wednesday. RTÉ reported that the Oireachtas Business Committee was due to discuss and finalise the details the following morning.
How the planned apology differs from the Garda apology
The earlier apology came from then Garda Commissioner Drew Harris on behalf of the police force. The Irish Times reported in July 2019 that Harris apologised to the Stack family for failings and shortcomings in the Garda investigation. Wednesday’s planned statement would instead be delivered by the Taoiseach on behalf of the State in the Dáil.
Austin Stack, Brian Stack’s son, told RTÉ the family had sought a formal State apology since 2019. He described the planned step as significant and said it would bring comfort to his mother. RTÉ reported that he and Martin had been in contact about the possibility since the coalition government took office in early 2025.
Brian Stack’s killing and the investigation
Brian Stack was chief prison officer at Portlaoise Prison. He was shot in the neck as he left a boxing match in Dublin on 25 March 1983 and died 18 months later, RTÉ reported. The Provisional IRA later claimed responsibility for the shooting. No one has been brought to justice for the killing.
The family was told in 2023 that the case file, then with the Director of Public Prosecutions, was being returned to Gardaí for further investigation. RTÉ reported that it understood the investigation had not progressed since the file’s return; that account was not presented as a fresh official update on its status.
Read in depth: World
Bessent defends Russia sanctions waiver, sidesteps question on Ukraine alliance
The US Treasury secretary challenged Zelenskyy’s criticism of Trump’s waiver while listing ways Washington still supports Ukraine.
France riots: 1,800 arrested as cost-of-living protests turn violent
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez confirms more than 500 officers hurt and 'considerable' damage as government accuses far-left groups of fomenting unrest.
Sources and context
- Brian Stack's family to receive formal State apologyRTÉ News
- Stack family gets apology from Garda Commissioner over handling of caseThe Irish Times
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.