Northern Ireland

Video: Brian Stack's son confronts Gerry Adams over murder

Austin Stack (left) confronted Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams during a press conference in Dublin 
Austin Stack (left) confronted Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams during a press conference in Dublin  Austin Stack (left) confronted Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams during a press conference in Dublin 

A SON of Brian Stack, a senior prison officer murdered by the IRA in the Republic in 1993, has confronted Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams at a press conference in Dublin.

Austin Stack said Mr Adams had lied about his knowledge of the murder of his father and told him to go to gardaí with the information he believes is crucial to the investigation.

Mr Stack previously claimed he and his brother Oliver were taken to meet a senior IRA member in a blacked out van. He said today Mr Adams must give the name of that person to An Garda Síochána and insisted he did not want to hear any more untruths.

He said Mr Adams would be "an absolute disgrace" if he did not provide the name.

Mr Adams said he “utterly rejected” Mr Stack's allegations and did not lie during his statement on the matter in the Dáil yesterday evening.

Mr Adams said he has tried to help the Stack family but admitted it was “clearly not enough" and that he is happy to assist the gardaí if required.

Brian Stack was shot in the back of the neck on March 25 1983 after leaving a boxing competition at Dublin's National Stadium.

Austin Stack confronting Gerry Adams a few minutes ago @Independent_ie pic.twitter.com/P1GAVFkK2D — Kevin Doyle (@KevDoyle_Indo) December 8, 2016

He was left paralysed and brain-damaged and died from his injuries 18 months after the shooting at the age of 47.

The IRA admitted in 2013 one of its members had carried out the killing but said it had not been sanctioned by the group's leadership.

Mr Adams was allowed to make a statement in the Dáil on the Stack murder after Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin raised repeated questions.

He said the killing was "a grievous loss for his [Mr Stack's] family and should never have happened".

He also defended anonymity granted to former IRA members who supported the peace process and decommissioning and who have worked to find the bodies of the Disappeared.

"Progress was only possible on the basis of confidentially and trust. That is why no IRA people where named during any of these initiatives and why they should not be named today," he said.

Two Sinn Féin TDs have denied being involved in the murder of Mr Stack.

TDs Dessie Ellis and Martin Ferris, both former IRA prisoners, were asked to make statements about the killing by Fine Gael TD Alan Farrell, speaking under Dáil privilege yesterday.

However, both denied any involvement.

The row erupted after yesterday's statement in the Dáil by Mr Adams about his meetings with Mr Stack's sons Austin and Oliver.

He said in 2013 Austin Stack gave him the names of four people he believed had information about the murder. Mr Adams said he passed on the four people's names - three of whom he said he had spoken to - to the Garda Commissioner just before February's General Election.

Mr Farrell later claimed Mr Ellis and Mr Ferris's names were among the four mentioned.

Mr Ellis said he could not have been involved in Mr Stack's murder because he was in jail in Portlaoise at the time. He said he had "nothing to do with this".

"I refute any allegations," he said.

He also told Mr Farrell to repeat his comments outside the chamber.

"Come outside if you have any guts," he said.

Mr Ferris said he had met gardaí in 2013 to discuss the case.

"I have nothing to answer for," he said.

Austin Stack has denied giving Mr Adams the names. He said yesterday he had no information that Mr Ellis was involved in his father's murder.