Tusla provides US court with documents to support Corbett family’s custody battle

Tusla, the State child and family agency, has provided a US court with legal documentation in support of an Irish family’s ongoing custody battle for two Limerick children.

Jack, 10, and Sarah, 8, Corbett are at the centre of a custody battle after their father, Jason, was killed in a domestic incident in his home in North Carolina.

They are currently in the care of their stepmother Molly Martens, 32, who, along with her father, have been questioned by police about the violent death.

The children’s aunt Treacy Lynch, brother of Jason, and her husband David Lynch are fighting for custody and want to bring the children back to Ireland, in line with what they say was their father’s wishes.

A candle-lit vigil will be held at 8.15pm today outside City Hall in Limerick to support the family.

Meanwhile, in what is seen as a significant development, Tusla has provided documents to be submitted to the ongoing custody hearing to state that both Mr and Mrs Lynch are suitable persons to care for Jack and Sarah.

The custody hearing opened last Friday at Davison County Courthouse in North Carolina. The judge said he would give a decision not later than Thursday.

Ms Martens, along with her father, a retired FBI agent, have been questioned about the death of Jason Corbett, 39. He died in a violent domestic incident in the family home on August 2 and the children have been in the care of Ms Martens and her family since.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Charlie Flanagan, has made personal contact with friends of Mr and Mrs Lynch, who have also travelled to the US for the court hearing, to offer them his support.

Fianna Fáil Justice spokesman Niall Collins said yesterday: “The Tusla document is very important, as it is internationally recognised and can be given to the judge who commenced hearing the case last Friday.

“I travelled to the midlands on Saturday to meet with Charlie Flanagan to impress on him the urgency of the situation given the two children are Irish citizens. He had been in direct contact with a friend of the Lynches who has travelled to the US to support them and I very much welcome this.”

Mr Corbett married Ms Martens after the death of his first wife, Mags Fitzpatrick, who was the mother of the two children. Ms Martens was initially the children’s au pair before a relationship developed.

Members of Mr Corbett’s family say he had become increasingly unhappy in the US and wanted to return to Limerick with his children.

The children still have Irish passports and Mr Corbett specified in his will that, in the event of his death, Ms and Mr Lynch were to be given custody of his children, who he wanted brought up in Ireland.

Mr Corbett’s family say he refused requests by Ms Martens to make them US citizens and refused to allow her to adopt the children.