Gardaí probing murder of prison officer Brian Stack issue alert for IRA suspect

Alleged killer said to have f led to France after IRA ‘investigated’ child abuse claim in the 1990s

AN alert has been issued for the whereabouts of a suspect in the Brian Stack murder investigation, the Irish Mail on Sunday has learned.

The Garda alert was circulated internally, looking for details on the whereabouts of the suspect, who was heavily involved with the IRA in the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s.

If the man’s whereabouts become known, it is believed an arrest could be made at that point.

Former Portlaoise prison officer Brian Stack died 18 months after he was shot in the neck as he left a boxing match in Dublin in 1983.

The Provisional IRA later claimed responsibility for the shooting, but no one has ever been brought to justice for the crime.

The suspect – who was also allegedly involved in the 1983 kidnapping of champion racehorse Shergar – is thought to have fled to France during the 1990s.

A source told how the suspect is also alleged to have sexually abused children while he was being sheltered in an IRA safe house.

The source told the MoS: ‘An alert has now been issued for his whereabouts.

‘The suspect is originally from Belfast and in the 1990s, a family who provided a safe house reported him to the IRA and Sinn Féin for raping children while hiding in their house.

‘IRA/Sinn Féin investigated, and he was found guilty, and the verdict was to kneecap him.’

However, the MoS understands that the suspect escaped his punishment of being shot in the knees after a senior IRA figure intervened.

The man later fled to France and his whereabouts today are unknown.

Earlier this year, the family of Brian Stack were given new hope after gardaí told them they were following new lines of enquiry in the case.

Brian Stack’s son Austin met with senior gardaí in March this year to discuss the ongoing investigation into his father’s murder.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Stack said gardaí told the family that the file on the case – which was with the DPP – is now being sent back to gardaí for further investigation.

He said gardaí told the family that there are significant lines of enquiry being followed, and the family will meet gardaí for a progress report.

‘He was found guilty of sexual abuse by the IRA’

Mr Stack described the meeting as ‘upbeat’ and said it had given the family new hope of a conviction. Austin Stack has been involved in a long campaign to get justice for his father. In 2019, the family received an apology from Garda Commissioner Drew Harris in relation to the handling of the investigation into the murder. A file was then sent to the DPP. Mr Stack appealed to anyone who has information to come forward. ‘We would ask anyone with any information that may assist the gardaí to come forward. Any little piece of information can add into something they already have,’ he said. ‘Last Friday it was 40 years since the shooting and we’re still quite hopeful. I’m a lot happier than before I went into the meeting. It gives us renewed hope,’ he added.

murdered: Prison officer Brian Stack, above and below, his son Austin