Name SenDiskSecuesecees2 wince {D) The meeting wth Stack famiy May9 12.docx “f Sanie Securetcess Date modified 2uns/2015 18:04 16/05/2013 1803 21/07/2015 1226 Properties ~ Size 208KB Pages a Words 7 Total Editing Time 1 Minutes Tile Add atitie Tags Add atag Comment: Ad comments Template Normaucotm Status Addtext Categories Add a category Subject Specitythe subject Hypertink Base aco text Company Specify the company Related Dates Last Modified 16/05/2013 1203 Created 15/05/2013 09:41 Last Printed 16/05/2013 1203 Type Application Microsoft Word D. File folder Size 15950K8 28May 16" 2013 Meeting with family of Chief Prison Officer Brian Stack May 9" 2013 Brian Stack was shot in Dublin 1983. He died in 1984. The IRA never claimed responsibility for this action. Several theories have been put forward including that it was A. one of various republican groups. B. A criminal group. A prison officer told the Joe Duffy Show that he did not believe that the IRA was responsible. ‘The family believe that the IRA was responsible and in interviews with various media in advance of the meeting said that they knew who was responsible. ‘The meeting took place at 5.30pm and included Austin and Oliver Stack and Gerry Adams and Richard McAuley. Gerry Adams opened the meeting acknowledging that it was their meeting and the huge trauma that the Stack family have suffered. He offered his condolences to their mother and to the family. He said that he had met many families in a similar situation. That he does want to help if he can. ‘Austin Stack said that he and his family have embraced the peace process. That their support for it is genuine and that they want help. He said that they believe that there were Sinn Féin people in Portlaoise Prison in and around the time of their father’s death. They believe the IRA killed him. That it had the organisation to do so. He said that ‘we are not looking for anyone to be punished’, They want those responsible to acknowledge that. They are prepared to sit down in a room and speak directly to the people involved. They are not looking for a grand media gesture. Gerry told them that he would be shocked if the IRA was involved. That the responsibility for this might rest with individuals or with one of the other groups that were in Portlaoise then. He pointed out that itis not our job to be investigators and that there investigation currently going on. alive Garda This obviously makes it difficult to follow through with what the family want —to persuade people to speak about this issue. Austin Stack said that the family believe that the reason the IRA didn’t take responsibility is because the attack was sanctioned in error. He says that they have the names of those they believe who may have been there on the day and the person who sanctioned it, He acknowledged that SF can’t act as investigators but he pointed to the fact that senior SFD people like anc@B were in Portlaoise around the time of their fathers death and may have information that could help the faHe stressed that the family just want to get some acceptance of responsibility; that they are Prepared to talk in private to get answers, That there would be quodos in this for SF if we could help. That they are not bitter people and are very much in favour of a Truth ‘Commission He asked that Gerry talk to people he knows and come back in a few weeks to them. Gerry told them that he would be happy to meet them again and he spoke about SF's approach to truth recovery and the fact that there were over three and a half thousand deaths. Trying to get all of the organisations involved to engage is very difficult. Some victims families dislike the peace process while others ~ and he cited Alan McBride — have become supporters of it. He said that he would reflect on what the brothers were saying and he accepted that acknowledgment was reasonable. Both Austin and Oliver Stack emphasized their desire for acknowledgment and that they were happy that this be done privately not publicly. They want to ask those responsible why they di Gerry explained that there was a time when it was possible to make representations. That there was a structure etc. but that has now gone. He also explained that he received legal advice not to get involved in such processes because to do so meant accessing information about actions that the police north and south could ask for and if not forthcoming would leave him open to prosecution He repeated that he wants to help. He told them he would publicly say that he would go off and reflect on what the Stack family are seeking, Austin Stack said that in any comment they might made to the media that they would say that Gerry had said he would reflect on what was said to him. They would also use the word reflect on what Gerry said to them. Austin Stack said that they were not there to give names but he claimed that the person who supposedly sanctioned the attack is in our Parliamentary party in the north. He said they had fairly concrete information from Gardai, some journalists and other sources and by ‘joining the dots’. Gerry asked how they would respond if he went to people who told him they know nothing about this. Would they believe him? ‘Austin Stack said they had come to meet him in belief that he was genuine. If he goes away and says he will do his best they have to accept that. He said they want acceptance of responsibility and are prepared to take that on the qt.Gerry explained that he believes that republicans ~ especially his generation — have a moral responsibility to bring closure for families and he accepts absolutely the bona fides of the family. He asked if they had explored the possibility that others were responsible? Austin Stack said that the Gardaf had told the family in the 80s that non aligned people or Saor Eire were responsible but that since then the Garda/media and others had identified the IRA and provided names. Austin Stack also said that the AC had turned down a request to attack Brian Stack 12 months earlier but when it came back a second time that it was sanctioned but not really sanctioned. That there was a misunderstanding between the people involved. Gerry said that he couldn’t see any rationale for republicans to do what was being claimed. Oliver Stack said that if people have truly embraced the peace process then they will come forward. He said they were not looking for anyone to do time — ‘we are not looking for that.’ Austin Stack spoke about the need for a healing process for victims and the role in this for restorative justice. Gerry explained that how this is presented in the media can impact on his ability to make Progress. He pointed to the UTV programme on collusion and the Pat Finucane case and how easily people can get involved in whataboutery — e.g, why should we deal with this when the loyalists and Brits aren’t dealing with their issues ‘ - thus making it difficult to get answers. Austin Stack said that the family want responsibility and acknowledgement. To listen to those who did it and ask why. They don’t want a shouting match. They are only interested in healing and reconciliation. The time for locking people up is gone. They are genuine about this. Gerry said that he believed the family are being very reasonable and agreed to meet again and to keep in touch. He pointed out that things were very busy at this time and that it could be mid June before he might be able to see them again. He said that he would do his best. ‘Austin Stack outlined some of the work he is involved in around restorative justice in the prison system, There was then a conversation about how to respond to the media We outlined to them what we would say and they told us what they would expect to say which included the belief that Gerry was genuine. That he will reflect on what the family have put to him. That they are not looking for revenge but for acknowledgement.