Pic supplied by the Corbett family.
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News of the guardianship ruling emerged shortly after over 600 people joined the Corbett and Fitzpatrick families at a candlelight vigil in Limerick city on Tuesday night.
Following his death, Jason’s children, Jack, 10, and Sarah, eight, were placed into the care of their stepmother Molly Martens, 31, who is now seeking custody of them.
Dave Lynch, Jason’s brother-in-law and close friend, has said the family “have grave concerns for the health and well being of these children”.
JACK and Sarah Corbett are coming home to see their father buried beside their mother.
“I’ve spoken to Jack and Sarah and they sounded good”.
“They came home every year, last year we got them home twice because they surprised us at Christmas”.
“They didn’t even sympathise with the family or anything – anyone with any human nature in them at all would do that much”.
The last time she saw her son alive was last summer when they went to Spanish Point for a short break and described him as “gentle, loving and good-natured person”.
“I was in the States with Jason until just three days before he passed”.
“We were heartbroken for Jason, he never properly grieved for my sister, we thought the trip to America would help”.
Police believe Jason was struck on the head with a baseball bat at his North Carolina home on August 3.
It’s their rightful place to be.
Lynch previously told RTÉ’s Drivetime her brother wanted his children to be raised here. Those poor children must be so traumatised by all this.
Corbett added that the children are “resilient” but will need “so much nurturing and care” after the trauma of recent weeks.
His American wife Molly Martens and her father Thomas Martens, a retired Federal Bureau of Investigation agent, have been questioned about his death but no arrests have been made.
Investigating officers say they are not looking for anyone outside of the home in relation to the incident.
On foot of the order officials from the Department of Social Services travelled to the address in Munroe, North Carolina, where Ms Martens was staying with the children, and removed them from her custody.
Dave and his wife Tracey had been named in Mr Corbett’s will as guardians for the children.
It is understood that the judge presiding over the case will now dissolve the custody and adoption hearing in light of the order by the Clerk of the Superior court.
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The family hope to be able to bring them back to Ireland by next Saturday, sources close to the family have said.
