Bertie Ahern appears to back Gerry Adams over Stack controversy

Former taoiseach Bertie Ahern has claimed the State cannot bring closure to the families of all Troubles victims — contradicting his own party and appearing to back Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams over the Brian Stack scandal.

Mr Ahern, who was one of a number of people closely involved in the latter stages of the peace process, made the comment as a Sinn Féin adviser was forced to apologise for wrongly linking Mr Stack’s son Austin to Fianna Fáil.

Speaking after attending the Dublin launch of a House of Lords report calling for a fresh Ireland-British Brexit deal, Mr Ahern said while it the Stack controversy is deeply damaging, he understands why Mr Adams claims he cannot reveal all information on the murder.