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The family of a murdered prison officer who was widely believed to have been killed by the IRA has held a meeting with Sinn Fein President, Gerry Adams.

Brian Stack, who was Chief Prison Officer at Portlaoise Prison in the Irish Republic, was shot in Dublin in 1983. He died 18 months later.

The IRA never claimed responsibility for the murder, but his family believe he was targeted because of his job.

His son, Austin Stack, described the meeting as very productive and genuine.

Two of the murdered officer's sons met Mr Adams at the Irish houses of parliament in Dublin on Thursday evening.

Speaking after the meeting, Austin Stack told the Irish state broadcaster RTE that no promises has been made, but that the Sinn Fein president had agreed to help them as best he could.

Mr Stack added that his family felt the offer was genuine and said they are due to meet Mr Adams again in about four weeks.

His father was shot in the back of the neck as he walked along Dublin's South Circular Road shortly after leaving a boxing tournament.

He was the only prison officer to be assassinated in the Republic of Ireland during the Troubles.

The man who carried out the shooting escaped on a motorbike, driven by an accomplice.

The prison officer was left brain damaged and paralysed from the neck down by the shooting and died from his injuries.

Austin Stack, the eldest of his three children, was 14 at the time of the shooting and is now the assistant governor of Wheatfield Prison in west Dublin.

He said he believes the IRA carried out the attack because his father thwarted a number attempts by members of the paramilitary group to escape from Portlaoise Prison and to smuggle weapons into the high security jail.

Mr Stack has said he wants the IRA to admit responsibility for his father's murder and his family want answers and closure from their discussions with the Sinn Fein president.

They have asked Mr Adams to speak to his contacts about the killing in the hope they can find out who carried it out and why.

"We're not looking for any form of revenge. We would like to sit down with those people, talk to them and get some form of responsibility."

Mr Adams, who stepped down as MP for West Belfast to become a member of the Irish parliament two years ago, has consistently denied that he was ever a member of the IRA.

Speaking after the meeting, the Sinn Fein president told RTE it had been a "good" and "comprehensive discussion".

"There are many families who are looking for closure. It may be that I won't be able to help but I certainly have the desire to be of assistance," Mr Adams said.

He added: "We have each agreed to go off and reflect on what was said. And we have agreed to meet again."