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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 … bring those responsible to justice. As time has passed since the Good Friday Agreement, these failings have made it impossible for the Stack family to move on, as they have explained to many of us in this Chamber. It is also clear that, both during the original investigation

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 … 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

servant of the State, indeed on the State itself, and it had devastating consequences for the people who knew and loved him. The Stack family have shown extraordinary determination, resilience and courage over the four decades and more since Brian was killed. They have continued to ask questions … undo their suffering. It cannot secure the conviction of Brian's murderer. However, today's statements are essential in affirming that the Stack family were failed and that they were right to raise the questions that they have asked. I acknowledge the words of Austin Stack

with the devastating loss of Brian and the unanswered questions surrounding his death. Today the State formally acknowledges the loss suffered by the Stack family and the failings of the investigations that followed. These are failings that caused immense pain to Brian’s family. Brian Stack … exhibits and the failure to record potentially vital information during the original investigation. There was also a failure to interview members of the Stack family or other people who could have been of assistance in the investigation. These were serious shortcomings in an investigation into the murder

death in September 1984, a review found no new evidence and the investigation remained open but dormant. At the urging of the Stack family, the Garda Commissioner ordered a review of the case in 2007. This led to a reinvestigation in 2008 and the identification of serious failings … shortcomings in the earlier investigation. These failings were acknowledged by the Garda Commissioner in his apology to the Stack family in 2019. Today, the Government extends a formal State apology. Despite the strong suspicion of Provisional IRA involvement throughout the Garda investigation, it was Austin and Oliver Stack

Today is, first and foremost, about the Stack family. For more than four decades, the family of Brian Stack have carried an unimaginable burden. They lost a husband, a father and a public servant in the most tragic of circumstances. Since then, they have endured years of grief … voices of victims and their families are heard matters. I want to pay tribute to the courage, dignity and determination shown by the Stack family throughout their long campaign. Despite all that they have endured, they have continued to seek truth, justice and accountability with remarkable strength

passage of time does not make grief any less and I do not pretend to understand the pain and loss they feel. The Stack family deserve truth and justice, as does every family who has lost a loved one in violent circumstances. The Stack family continues to have … recovery process so that we can ensure that all bereaved families can establish what happened and provide meaningful acknowledgement for their losses. The Stack family deserved an effective Garda investigation. They deserved to have their questions treated seriously and every reasonable effort made to establish the truth. Today

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 us of a very dark time. It was difficult to listen to some in the Opposition because talk … including Brian Stack's, and have denied many families the answers they deserved. The State should have carried out that responsibility. Instead, the Stack family had to keep pushing, questioning and searching for the truth. They should never have had to work so hard. I welcome the Taoiseach

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's murder. Their determination, courage and resilience deserve our utmost respect. It should never … glad it has been delivered today. I commend the Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, for acknowledging the State's failures and apologising to the Stack family. Brian Stack was a young man in the prime of his life going about an ordinary evening attending a boxing event at the National

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. What began as a senseless act of violence … family that should never have had to fight so hard for the truth. This is something we cannot lose sight of today. The Stack family were not simply grieving the loss of a husband and father; they were forced to become campaigners, to challenge institutions, to pursue information

volunteers were responsible for the shooting of Brian Stack. He said it should not have happened and expressed sorrow to the family. The Stack family's long search for answers deserves respect. More broadly, Sinn Féin supports a comprehensive, independent truth recovery process to address conflict-related deaths … across this island. Such a process can help families to establish what happened and provide meaningful acknowledgement for their loss. The Stack family deserved an effective Garda investigation. They deserved to have information pursued, evidence properly examined and their concerns treated seriously. Today, the State acknowledges that they

Today is a very significant day for the Stack family. They have waited a very long time for the State to give a formal apology arising from the murder of Brian Stack, who was a well-regarded chief prison officer in Portlaoise for many years … public does not fully appreciate what is involved in the work that prison officers do. It is a very significant day for the Stack family. The Government has decided to make a formal apology on behalf of the State to the family of prison officer, Brian Stack

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 … that progress by the answers it brings. However, Governments cannot do this alone. Those who were involved hold answers no file contains. The Stack family proved that. Four families still wait to bury their loved ones: Joe Lynskey, Columba McVeigh, Robert Nairac and Seamus Maguire. I renew

their pursuit of truth and justice for their husband and father. While no apology can undo the terrible loss suffered by the Stack family, today’s full and unreserved apology is an important recognition of the serious failings that occurred in the investigations following the murder of Brian … closure to Brian’s family. Their dignity, resilience and determination have been an example to us all. Today, we stand with the Stack family and reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that every effort continues to be made in the pursuit of truth and justice. I hope they never

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 and for justice deserves respect and support. I was five years old when the Good Friday Agreement was signed … past is never repeated. Today, I hope this apology provides some meaningful acknowledgement of the loss and the failures that the Stack family have endured

Member of this House, I want to associate myself with the Taoiseach's State apology and offer my own sincere apology to the Stack family. They deserved better from the institutions of the State and I am deeply sorry that they did not receive it. I want … acknowledge the extraordinary courage of the Stack family. For over four decades, through disappointment and unanswered questions, they never gave up seeking justice for a man they loved. That brings me to something I believe deeply. Anyone can do what is right when it is easy, when there

behalf of the 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 … failings and shortcomings in the investigation". He further stated that these failings were serious and had a detrimental impact on the investigation. The Stack family has been told that some of these failings related to key witnesses not being interviewed, material evidence such as fingerprint records going missing

acknowledge the consequences for those affected. I know an apology cannot undo the family's loss, but it shows that Brian Stack's family deserved better and that the failings in the investigation must be recognised. Brian Stack's service has not been forgotten, as has been said … also want to say that Brian's father came from County Kerry to serve as an engineer with Laois County Council. The Stack family have been part of the community in Portlaoise and the community in Togher. I do not remember them being there, but I know Brian

also welcome the State apology to the family of Brian Stack. Brian Stack was shot in the back of the head by the IRA in 1983. Brian was a loved husband and father of three children. His killing was devastating for his family and friends, and no greater … true for anybody who was working in the service of the State. The fact that justice and truth have been denied to the Stack family is absolutely wrong. The primary responsibility for this lies with the people who pulled the trigger and with the IRA. Nationalists and republicans

name of a united Ireland. I wish as much energy went into providing answers for 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 … they can give a Christian burial to Columba. They deserve information. All victims deserve truth and accountability, whoever was responsible. The Stack family deserves this apology, and I am so pleased to be here today. They also deserve the truth

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 … whatever reason, by senior people. We see it again in the case of Brian Stack. It is a sad case. Some day, I hope there will be a State apology for the family of Councillor Eddie Fullerton

That concludes our statements. I again thank the Stack family for being present during the statements. I join with all of the other speakers in what they have said. As the Minister has said, the killers of Brian Stack are still at large and anyone who has knowledge

Drug Debt Related Intimidation and Community Safety, selected by Sinn Féin. Wednesday's business shall be: - State Apology to the family of the late Brian Stack (to conclude within 2 hours and 20 minutes) - Defence (Amendment) Bill 2026 (Second Stage) (to conclude at the end of the first … pursuant to Standing Order 25(1), shall be taken immediately following the State Apology to the family of the late Brian Stack, which shall be taken at the time when the SOS would normally be taken; 2. the State Apology to the family of the late Brian Stack

something we properly address? A core part of reconciliation has to be restorative justice. I was reminded of that as Brian Stack's family were here two weeks ago. Will the Taoiseach commit to ensuring that restorative justice is a part of the legacy and the resolution

adept in offering State apologies - long sought and richly deserved apologies. I am thinking of yesterday's quite appropriate apology to the family of Brian Stack. I am thinking also of the apologies offered to Shane O'Farrell's family, to the victims of Kennelly in Waterford