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Deputy Jim O'Callaghan, in delivering this full and unreserved apology to the family of the late Brian Stack. I acknowledge presence of Sheila, Austin, Kieran and Oliver. The State failed you in the investigation of Brian's killing. We know those failures added to your suffering … upon a member of the staff of the Irish Prison Service in recognition of an act of exceptional personal bravery. Brian’s wife Sheila accepted the first Stack Medal on her late husband’s behalf in 2013 in recognition of his loyal service to the State. That same

take this opportunity to welcome Sheila Stack, and her sons, Austin, Oliver and Kieran, to the House today. I welcome the Government's decision to issue a formal apology to the family of the late Brian for the serious shortcomings in the Garda investigation into his shooting … commitment. His life was tragically changed and ended by a brutal attack. I know Brian's death was a devastating loss to you, Sheila; to your three sons, Austin, Oliver and Kieran; and to all of your extended family. It was also a loss to the Irish Prison

behalf of the Independent Members in government, I acknowledge Sheila Stack and her sons Austin, Oliver and Kieran who are with us today. For over four decades, they have lived with the devastating loss of Brian and the unanswered questions surrounding his death. Today the State formally acknowledges … families to ensure they are treated with fairness and respect. The State has previously recognised Brian Stack's service and sacrifice. In 2013 Sheila Stack accepted the first Stack Medal on behalf of her late husband, recognising his loyal service to the State. The naming of Brian Stack

begin my remarks by expressing my sincere apology as Minister for justice to Sheila, Austin, Kieran and Oliver - the Stack family - for the various failings documented by the Taoiseach in relation to the Garda investigation into the murder of chief officer Brian Stack. Brian Stack served the State … during a time of great challenge and as Sheila, Austin, Kieran and Oliver have vividly described, his life was characterised by a belief in public service. His callous and cowardly murder by the Provisional IRA in 1984 in connection with his role in the Irish Prison Service

case that we do not know in this House. However, there is never a wrong time to do the right thing. Sheila Stack is originally a Donoghue from Portlaoise. She comes from a well-known family and I have known her for many years. She is a lovely … lady. When we think about Brian Stack, we also have to think of Sheila, who had to take on the role of mother and father to their three sons, Austin, Oliver and Kieran. That was not an easy job and her hands were full, as we can understand

Today, I welcome to the Distinguished Visitors Gallery Sheila, Austin, Kieran and Oliver Stack, the wife and sons of the late 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 … Stát an fiosrú a dhéanamh go cruinn agus i gceart. Is léir nár tharla é seo agus tá brón orainn dá dheasca sin. Sheila, Austin, Kieran and Oliver, it is through your dignity, your courage and your love that Brian Stack will not be forgotten

Social Democrats, at the outset I want to acknowledge and welcome members of the Stack family who are here today: Brian's wife Sheila and his sons Austin, Kieran and Oliver. The public apology that has been delivered today is long overdue because the murder of Brian Stack … person because he was much more than the victim of that terrible crime. Most of all, he was devoted to his loving wife, Sheila, and his three young sons. He was also very involved in the GAA and boxing. He played hurling and was a noted intercounty referee

acknowledge and welcome Sheila, Austin, Kieran and Oliver Stack and thank them for their immense courage and their dignity in being here today. The grace and determination the members of the Stack family have shown throughout their decades-long campaign for justice have been nothing short of remarkable … acknowledge the full extent of the State's failures and to ensure the apology is accompanied by meaningful action. I again acknowledge Sheila, Austin, Kieran and Oliver. I have enormous admiration for the dignity and determination you have shown throughout your campaign. You should not have

family having to spend more than 40 years asking the State to acknowledge that it failed them. My thoughts today are with Sheila, Austin, Oliver and Kieran and everybody who loved Brian Stack. The presence of the Stack family here and the statements today remind … inflicted pain and terror on so many victims and families. We cannot measure what those months after the attack were like for Brian, Sheila and their boys, as they experienced fear, hopelessness and the grief of then losing him. Their suffering has been compounded by serious failures

This apology from the State is long overdue. It is very welcome. I express my deepest sympathies to the family of Brian Stack – Sheila, Austin, Kieran and Oliver – who are with us today, and commend them on their long campaign for justice. Even though they continue … that they have asked. I acknowledge the words of Austin Stack, who has spoken of the comfort this apology will bring, particularly to Sheila, in finally having the State officially recognise that they were failed. In 2013, the Provisional IRA accepted responsibility for Brian Stack's killing

heart of this story is a man who was in the fullness of his life, a wife, Sheila, who had a wonderful husband by her side and sons, Austin, Kieran and Oliver, who had a wonderful father who was part of the community. All too tragically, undeservedly … this Chamber, who hold the answers to many of those questions. I wish to acknowledge the immense dignity, perseverance and strength shown by Sheila Stack and her sons for more than four decades in their pursuit of truth and justice for their husband and father. While no apology

acknowledge Sheila Stack and her sons, Austin, Kieran and Oliver. For most of us, Brian Stack's murder is a chapter in our country's history, but for his family, it is not history. It is a husband who never came home, a father missing from the family … know the truth about Brian Stack's murder, I ask them to find the courage to make that choice today. I say to Sheila, Austin, Kieran and Oliver that their husband and father served this country with courage and they have honoured his memory with their own courage

begin by extending my deepest sympathy to Sheila and her sons, Austin, Kieran and Oliver, who are in the Public Gallery. We are neighbours, as Deputy Fleming has said, in Graiguecullen in Laois. I commend the Stack family for their tireless campaign to uncover the truth of Brian … important recognition of what went wrong and of the injustice that the Stack family have experienced. I hope today brings Sheila, Austin, Kieran and Oliver some acknowledgement and comfort that they have shown extraordinary strength in ensuring that Brian's name and legacy endure. They deserve the answers

family of the late Brian Stack. Before calling on the Taoiseach I wish, on behalf of the House, to acknowledge the presence of Sheila, Brian's wife, and Austin, Kieran and Oliver, his three sons, in the Distinguished Visitors Gallery. Today's proceedings mark an important milestone

Sinn Féin, I welcome today's State apology to the family of Brian Stack. I offer my sincere sympathies to his wife Sheila and their sons Austin, Kieran and Oliver. The shooting of Brian Stack was wrong. It should never have happened. His family suffered a terrible loss

wrong. It was a terrible loss for his family and should never have happened. I again offer my sincere sympathies to his wife Sheila and their three sons, Austin, Kieran and Oliver. I know that the passage of time does not make grief any less

welcome today's State apology to the family of Brian Stack, and I too offer my sympathies to Brian's wife, Sheila, and to their sons, Austin, Kieran and Oliver. Brian Stack's shooting was wrong and should never have happened. The Stack family's search for truth

welcome the State's and the Taoiseach's full, unreserved apology to the Stack family this afternoon. I welcome Sheila, Austin, Oliver and Kieran to the House. Our thoughts are also with the wider Stack family and Brian's Prison Service colleagues. Brian Stack was chief prison officer

equivocation in that regard. No Irish republican would ever try to justify what happened. It was absolutely wrong. I commend Sheila and the Stack family on their campaign for answers and justice. When I look at the litany of Garda failures, I want to also tell the story

families over the years as went into trying to justify the unjustifiable. Mr. Stack served the State as a prison officer. His wife, Sheila, and her three young sons endured 18 months of his suffering before losing him. I commend the family’s dignity and bravery. Austin