Taoiseach Micheál Martin apologises to the family of IRA murder victim Brian Stack, saying the Irish state 'badly failed' him

Micheál Martin addressed the Dáil, describing it as 'plainly and utterly unacceptable' that An Garda Síochána can no longer locate potential evidence in the case. Three Garda investigations failed to bring anyone to justice for the 1983 shooting at Dublin's National Stadium. Brian Stack, chief prison officer at Portlaoise Prison, was shot and left paralysed, dying 18 months later. His wife Sheila and sons Austin, Kieran and Oliver watched from the gallery.

A review found '194 errors and omissions' in the first investigation, Austin Stack said.

The family has repeatedly been refused sight of that report by justice ministers.

The IRA only admitted the killing in 2013 after a long family campaign.