Andrew Carey
A CUSTODY hearing over the fate of two Limerick children left orphaned following the killing of their father in the US almost two weeks ago has been adjourned until next week.
Jack (10) and Sarah Corbett (8) had moved to the US state of North Carolina with their father and his second wife four years ago.
Jack and Sarah’s mother, Mags, died tragically in 2006 from a serious asthma attack and 39-year-old Jason Corbett moved to the US with his second wife Molly Martens.
On August 2, Jason was found dead having suffered fatal head injuries and police said that they were not seeking anyone outside the home in what was described as “domestic disturbance”.
In the wake of Mr Corbett’s death, Ms Marten who is “a person of interest” in the case, was granted temporary custody of Jack and Sarah despite Jason’s written wishes that in the event of his death, the children’s aunt Tracey Lynch and her husband David would be their legal guardians.
Ms Lynch, who is a well-known and respected community leader in Limerick, together with her husband, travelled to the US abandoning their holiday in France when the tragic news emerged from the Corbett home in Panther Creek Court, Wallburg, North Carolina.
Efforts made by the Limerick branch of the Corbett family to have extended contact with the young children proved very difficult in the aftermath and a custody hearing was scheduled to take place in a US court last Friday.
Last Thursday, Jason Corbett’s remains were returned home to Ireland on a Delta Airlines flight to Dublin and his repatriation was funded by the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust who assisted the Corbett family with the arrangements.
Jason’s twin brother Wayne said that bring his brother’s body home to Limerick was the hardest thing he has ever had to do.
The trust offers financial assistance to bereaved families to repatriate bodies of their loved ones who have died abroad in sudden or tragic circumstances.
On Friday, the hearing, which began and 2pm Irish time, was adjourned a number of hours later until next week, Thursday August 20, to allow the Judge consider the case.
Meantime, it has now emerged that Ms Marten, together with her father, Thomas, who are originally from Knoxville, Tennessee, were interviewed by detectives with Davidson County Sheriff’s department.
Evidence was collected from both as well as evidence from the crime scene, the county sheriff has said.
Ms Martens parents had been visiting on the weekend that Mr Corbett was killed.
Social media campaigns, personal tributes, petitions and fundraising activities have all been initiated in Ireland in support of the young Corbett children, with calls being made for Government intervention at the highest level.
Limerick cabinet minister Jan O’Sullivan said that the Government and the Department of Foreign Affairs was ready to assist further but she was aware that the “legal process in the US had to take place first”
“this is a an extraordinary terrible time for the family and a very, very distressing situation, not only to lose a family member but also their concern about the children.”
The expenditure facing the Corbett family is set to run into the tens of thousands and donations to help fund #jasonsjourney and to #bringjacksarahhome are being accepted through Limerick bank accounts and online.
