Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do not accept that this is in any way acceptable. Nobody can doubt that Brian Stack served this State with honour in his role as a prison officer. The work he and his colleagues did in protecting this State was vital during that very troubled period. His cold-blooded murder at the hands of Provisional IRA thugs was a cowardly, brutal and totally unjustifiable act of pointless violence. It should be properly condemned by everybody.

If Deputy Martin or I were in a situation where an allegation like this was made, where names were given to serving public representatives of those who were allegedly involved in a murder, it would not be acceptable that we could accept something happened and was forgotten about. Kangaroo courts are not, and never can be, a replacement for the laws of the land.

I cannot answer the Deputy's question as to whether the person who apparently is known and is living outside of the country and carried out the murder was ever spoken to or disciplined, or whether the name of the person understood to have carried out the murder was given to the Garda. It is up to Deputy Adams, who is the president and leader of his party, to deal with this.

It is utterly unacceptable that a man was shot through the back of the neck outside a boxing club and died quite some time afterwards. All these years later, we now hear the names of the persons allegedly involved being supplied. I cannot comment on the operational matters involved. This is a live murder investigation under the direction of the Garda Commissioner.

Obviously, the Garda is conducting its investigation. I do not know whether the persons mentioned in the supply of names given to Deputy Adams have been spoken to by the Garda, although I have to accept that the Garda will do its utmost to bring about the truth.

A man was murdered in cold blood. His alleged murderer is still at large. Being disciplined or not by the Provisional IRA is no substitute for the laws of this State. In answer to Deputy Martin's question, it is utterly unacceptable and those who have information should come forward and tell the truth.

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