Limerick man’s body to be flown home from US today

The coffin bearing the remains of Limerick man, Jason Corbett, who died violently at his home in North Carolina, is due to arrive at Dublin airport at 9.30am this morning.

A custody court hearing involving his two children, Jack, 10, and Sarah, 8, is due to be heard in a North Carolina court tomorrow. The children were born to Mr Corbett and his first wife, Mags, who died of an asthma attack in 2006.

Molly Martens, 32, came from the US to Ireland to work as an au pair to the Corbett children, after their mother’s death. Mr Corbett subsequently moved with his two children to the US, where he married Ms Martens. Ms Martens was the only person interviewed by police about Mr Corbett’s death, which was caused by a blunt-force injury to the head on August 2.

Police said the body was discovered after they were called to a ‘domestic disturbance’ at the Corbett familly home. Ms Martens and her family have taken custody of the children, and Mr Corbett’s family, who have travelled to North Carolina, have been refused access to them.

The Corbetts have criticised the lack of support given to them by the Irish Embassy in Washingon and say they have only had a few contacts with a consular official in Atlanta.

Ms Martens is seeking custody of the children at tomorrrow’s hearing. Mr Corbett’s sister, Tracey Lynch, and her husband, David, who were named in Mr Corbett’s will as guardians of his children, in the event of his death, are contesting Ms Marten’s application and are calling for the children to be returned to the Corbett family, so they can be brought back to Limerick.

The children are Irish citizens with Irish passports and Mr Corbett’s family say Jason resisted efforts by Ms Martens to have the children made US citizens. Minster for Education, Jan O’Sullivan, said the Government supported the family.