Friday 30 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 13730Murder · Co. Dublin

Family of murdered prison officer Brian Stack seeks full State apology

Brian Stack, a man and Chief Prison Officer at Portlaoise Prison, was shot after leaving a boxing match in Dublin in 1983. The attack was carried out by members of the Provisional IRA, and he died 18 months later from his injuries. Three separate garda investigations have taken place into the murder, including a 2009 Cold Case review that found 198 inadequacies in the original investigation. The family is seeking a full State apology and is due to meet Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan on 15 May 2025.

  1. Reported
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Brian Stack, a Portlaoise Prison officer, was murdered.
  • Stack was a Chief Prison Officer.
Where
Stack was shot after leaving a boxing match in Dublin.
When
Stack was shot in 1983 and died 18 months later from his injuries.
Cause
The attack was carried out by members of the Provisional IRA.
Investigation
  • Three separate garda investigations have taken place into the murder.
  • A 2009 Cold Case review found 198 inadequacies in the original investigation.
  • The Garda Commissioner issued a public apology to the family over the mishandling of garda investigations, which one article dates to 2019.
Other details
  • The family is seeking a full State apology.
  • The family is due to meet Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan about the investigation on 15 May 2025.
8 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatBrian Stack, a Portlaoise prison officer, was murdered. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereStack was shot after leaving a boxing match in Dublin. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenStack was shot in 1983 and died 18 months later. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • causeThe attack was carried out by members of the Provisional IRA. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationThree separate garda investigations have taken place into the murder. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationA 2009 Cold Case review found 198 inadequacies in the original investigation. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationThe Garda Commissioner issued a public apology to the family over the mishandling of garda investigations. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe family is calling for a full State apology. (leinsterexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 14 May2025
    Otherleinsterexpress.ie, first report
    Full State apology sought by family of murdered Portlaoise Prison Officer

    Family seeks a full State apology ahead of a meeting with Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan. Covers the 1983 killing and criticism of three garda investigations, including a 2009 Cold Case review and a 2019 public apology from the Garda Commissioner.

    victim, Brian Stack, male, irish (judged from name)Brian Stack