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Irish state apologizes to family of prison officer shot by IRA

The Irish government has issued a formal apology to the family of Brian Stack, a prison officer who was shot and killed by members of the Irish Republican Army in Dublin four decades ago. Stack was attacked while crossing a street in 1983 and died 18 months after sustaining his injuries.

LSN World News · 21 October 2026

Irish state apologizes to family of prison officer shot by IRA

Brian Stack, a corrections officer, was shot in the back of the neck on a Dublin street in 1983 during a period marked by significant violence linked to republican militant activity. The attack left him critically injured, and he succumbed to his wounds after enduring 18 months of medical care.

The formal state apology, extended to Stack's family, represents an official acknowledgment of the circumstances surrounding his death and the impact on his relatives. The gesture comes as part of broader efforts by Irish authorities to address historical cases involving violence during the conflict period.

Stack's case has remained a significant chapter in Ireland's complex history of sectarian violence and institutional memory. The apology underscores the state's recognition of the suffering endured by families of victims caught in the crossfire of militant activity during the troubled decades of Irish history.