The twin brother of an Irish man killed in America earlier this month has paid tribute to the people of Limerick who turned out in their hundreds on Tuesday night to show their solidarity with his family.
Wayne Corbett (39) was speaking at a candlelight gathering for his niece and nephew Jack and Sarah Corbett who are at the centre of a custody battle in North Carolina.
The children have been in the care of their American step mother Molly Martens since their father was found dead at their home in Panther’s Creek Court, Walburg, on August 3rd last following what police have described as a domestic incident.
Ms Martens along with her father Thomas Martens, a retired FBI agent, have been questioned about Mr Corbett’s but no arrests have been made.
“He [JASON]was a great brother a great father, it is just very traumatic what’s happened to the family, both ourselves and the Fitzpatrick family,” said Wayne Corbett.
More than 600 people gathered in front of City Hall in Limerick’s Merchant’s Quay to stand in solidarity beside Jason Corbett’s parents Rita (74) and father John (80) who are waiting for their grandchildren to be returned home.
“It’s actually overwhelming all the support we have had from the whole of Limerick, both tonight and from other fundraising efforts they have done. The whole of Limerick has been very supportive and we thank them very much as a family,” added Wayne who enjoyed a two-week holiday with his twin brother just days before his death.
“We are just trying to cope for our elderly parents and then we can bury my brother as he should be buried,” he added.
Jason’s other siblings Stephen and Michael were also at the “Bring Jack and Sarah Home” vigil while their sisters Marilyn and Tracey, who was appointed legal guardian to Jack and Sarah after their mother’s death remain in North Carolina awaiting the outcome of last Friday’s seven hour custody hearing.
“Hopefully the court case will go our way on Thursday and we might be able to bring them home and we will be able to bury my brother because nobody should be going through this,” said Michael Corbett who travelled home from North Carolina last week to accompany his brothers remains, which were repatriated with the help of the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust.
“It has been an absolute nightmare for everyone, for my elderly parents, for the Fitzpatrick family, everybody, it’s just a total nightmare so hopefully we will have a final answer on Thursday and we can bring them home and bury my brother.”
Thomas, Catherine and Sarah Fitzpatrick the siblings of Jason’s first wife Mags Corbett who died from an asthma attack in 2006 also attended Tuesday night’s ceremony where 500 candles were distributed and prayers said for the Corbett children.
“We are nervous and frustrated at the whole thing, it’s hard enough for the Corbett family to actually deal with what’s happened but they haven’t been able to grieve, We haven’t been able to grieve either. We just want to get the kids back and begin the process,” said Thomas Fitzpatrick.
“We are just worried about the children, we don’t know how they are and we haven’t spoken to them we don’t know what kind of state they are in or anything like that, we just want to get them home, to be with their two families.
“They were home at Christmas they surprised my mam and they were home for about two weeks so it was a really lovely Christmas just to have them home for my mother especially.”
“We just hope they are okay and we are praying that Thursday goes our way.”
Mr Fitzpatrick described how his family spent last Friday with the Corbett’s awaiting news on an outcome from the custody hearing in North Carolina.
“We just all wanted to be together when we got the news. It was just a really long day waiting by the phone . . . Our stomachs were up in a heap waiting and waiting, it was very frustrating to have dragged on. I don’t think it should have got to this stage at all,” he continued.
Catherine Fitzpatrick who lived with her brother Jason and his children after her sister died, said it was devastating that her young niece and nephew have not been allowed to see their Irish relatives since they arrived over two weeks ago.
“It would be a bit of a comfort if we knew they were with someone from the family and we could talk to them and tell them that we love them and knew they were coming home, that has been the hardest part for us,” she said.
“I can’t understand it at all. It is in Jason’s will, that’s what he wanted and that’s what my sister would have wanted we just can’t understand it at all.”
Ms Fitzpatrick said her niece and nephew are very like their mother and despite their young age when she died they are always asking about her.
“Sarah doesn’t stop talking, which is very like Mags and Jack looks very like her. They’ll always ask questions about her and look at videos. Jack always goes outside at night and there is a special star in the sky and he says that’s his mammy.”
In his address at Tuesday night’s gathering Mayor of Limerick Cllr Jerry O’Dea said the recognition of Jason Corbett’s will in America is at the centre of the legal process.