Admission that IRA killed prison officer Brian Stack

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23629928

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The IRA has admitted killing the only prison officer murdered in the Republic of Ireland during the Troubles.

Thirty years after the attack on Brian Stack, Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has expressed his "regret" to the Stack family over the killing.

The family of the former Portlaoise chief prison officer had mounted a long campaign to secure the admission.

It came after Mr Stack's sons Austin and Oliver held talks with Mr Adams and a former IRA commander.

Mr Adams said he accompanied the two brothers to a meeting with a former IRA leader, who admitted the IRA shot their father in the back of the neck on 25 March, 1983.

Mr Stack had been crossing a busy Dublin street after leaving a boxing contest at the National Stadium when he was attacked.

"I want to pay tribute to the Stack family, to Sheila Stack and her sons, Austin, Kieran and Oliver," said Mr Adams.

"On behalf of Sinn Féin I extend my regret at the killing of Brian.

"I hope that these recent developments will help them achieve the closure they have sought for 30 years."

Brian Stack was left paralysed and brain-damaged from the shooting and suffered for a further 18 months before dying from his injuries at the age of 47.