Corbett kids ‘must be brought home’
Marian Fitzpatrick said she can’t believe her two grandchildren have been left in the custody of one of the suspects in the murder of their father, Jason Corbett.
She urged politicians to help return the siblings to their large extended Irish family as they await a decision in the custody battle with their stepmother Molly Martens, who has been voluntarily questioned by detectives along with her father Thomas in relation to Jason’s brutal death.
Marian, whose daughter Margaret tragically died of an asthma attack in 2006 when her children were just babies, said their Dad had always intended to bring the children back to Ireland for their teenage years.
Jason, 39, was found dead in the bedroom of his home in North Carolina. His second wife Molly Martens and her father Thomas Martens are being questioned in relation to his death.
“I just want my grandkids home. This is where Jason wanted them to be. It is a nightmare. We love those kids. I knew Jason always wanted them to come back here as teenagers to rear them here. Any time he came home he was happy and we all met up together.
“He even surprised me and my family for Christmas with the two kids when we weren’t expecting him. It was fantastic. I had the best Christmas anyone could have. He always, always wanted to come home.
“Margaret would have wanted them back home with both sets of grandparents. I know that for definite. Jason was a brilliant dad. He idolised those two kids.”
She said she is appalled her grandchildren are living with the suspects in their father’s killing.
“It’s an absolute disgrace that this could happen. To think they could be with these people. And they are Irish citizens.”
She said she doesn’t think Jason ever got over the death of her daughter in 2006 from an asthma attack.
“(Margaret) and Jason were soul mates. I don’t think he ever got over her death. I think everywhere he went he saw Margaret.”
Mr Corbett’s sister Tracey Lynch and her husband David, who were appointed legal guardians to the Corbett children in their father’s will, gave evidence at a harrowing custody hearing last Friday but a decision won’t be made until Thursday.
Marian Fitzpatrick said there is a huge loving Irish family here to look after the children.
“The Corbett family are such a loving family. I trust David and Tracey with those two kids. They have been very involved with the children. Tracey and David have families of their own and work and everything else. But they are determined they are not leaving or they won’t bury Jason until the kids come home.”
Jason Corbett’s remains were repatriated on Thursday but his family said they will not bury Jason Corbett without his children present at his funeral.
