US custody battle: Children’s future must be secured

THE custody battle over two children whose Irish father, Jason Corbett, died in an incident at his US home is a heartbreaking and distressing state of affairs that every family would dread. 

The plight of Jack and Sarah Corbett is all the more poignant to Irish people who heaved a sigh of relief in thanks for the fact that this upsetting case has, for now at least, been resolved by the US courts.

Having been placed under the legal guardianship of their father’s sister, Tracey Lynch, and her husband David, the children are now expected to be back in Limerick for their father’s funeral this weekend. Hopefully, if the wishes expressed in his last will and testament are fulfilled, then the children’s return to this country will be made permanent.

This is a difficult and complex case in which, according to police, Mr Corbett died following a ‘domestic incident’. His death may yet become a case of homicide. The intention of the children’s father was that any claim over them by their former childminder who had become their stepmother after the death of their mother, Mags Corbett, should be denied. Instead, he wanted them to be reared by his and his wife’s families in Ireland.

An important step towards fulfilling his wishes will be taken when they return to Limerick, where locals have kept a candlelight vigil of support for Jack and Sarah’s homecom-ing. When all is said and done, their future must be secured.