Micheál Martin backs son of a Portlaoise prison officer "murdered by IRA" for General Election in Laois

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has thrown his weight behind Portlaoise man and former prison officer Austin Stack to win two seats for his party in Laois with the party targeting embattled former Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley to make the gain.

The party confirm a report by the Leinster Express / Laois Live that Austin Stack had been added to the party’s ticket in the Laois constituency in the General Election on the day Taoiseach Simon Harris called the election.

Mr Stack will join outgoing Laois Offaly TD and Minister of State Seán Fleming on the ticket that faces the electorate on November 29.

Fianna Fáil said Mr Stack, a Portlaoise native, previously served as Assistant Governor in the Irish Prison Service where he developed a reputation as a health and safety expert. They said he has a MSc in Environmental Health and Safety and recently launched a new health and safety consultancy business in Portlaoise.

The statement said his father, Portlaoise Chief Prison Officer Brian Stack, was shot by the IRA in 1983 and died in hospital in 1984. It added that his son Austin has campaigned relentlessly over the years since for justice for his murder.

Tánaiste Micheál Martin said of the surprise decision to put Mr Stack, who has never run for political office, on the ticket.

"Austin is a very passionate advocate, as shown both by his campaigning for justice for his father, who was tragically murdered by the IRA, and locally, helping people in Portlaoise.

"I am delighted he has been added to the ticket. He has a proven track record of working with residents’ associations locally and is deeply rooted in his community.

"We have a well-balanced ticket in Laois with Austin and Seán and I believe we are in strong contention for two seats," he said.

Mr Stack reflecting on his addition to the ticket. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

The late Brian Stack, Brian Stack House in Portlaoise and Brian's son Austin Stack.

“I am honoured to have been added to the ticket in Laois for the General Election. I am hugely passionate about advocating for the people of Laois. Over the past decades, I have shown that I am not afraid of being a strong voice for people here and standing up for them.

"I am proud of my work on the Portlaoise Hospital Action Committee, engaging residents associations and will continue this hard work on behalf of the people of Laois in the weeks ahead.

"I will always fight for justice and for fairness. If elected to Dáil Éireann I will continue this and be a relentlessly strong voice for our community at a national level," he said.

Mr Stack's addition has blindsided some Fianna Fáil members locally but they were aware of his interest as he he submitted his name for nomination to Laois FF soon after Brian Stanley resigned from Sinn Féin. They did not expect that HQ would deviate from the one-candidate strategy.

Mr Stack enters a crowded field. Dep Fleming is expected to win a seat for Fianna Fáil while Cllr Wille Aird is also favoured to take a seat for Fine Gael on the retirement of Charlie Flanagan.

Apart from Brian Stanley, others in the race include Cllr Aisling Moran, Ind, Maria McCormack, SF, Rosie Palmer, Greens, Mary Hand, Aontú, Elaine Mullally, Ind, Ken Mooney, People Before Profit. 

All entrants to the Laois race are first time General Election candidates apart from Minister Fleming and Dep Stanley. Cllr Aisling Moran's father ran for Fine Gael in 2011. 

There were just six candidates in Laois when it was first a three-seat Dáil constituency in 2016. Population growth led the Electoral Commission to split it from Offaly to create two three-seat constituencies.