Custody hearing for Corbett children

The father-in-law of an Irishman killed in the US this month has been questioned by police in relation to his death.

Mr Corbett’s sister and her husband are seeking custody of 10-year-old Jack and eight-year-old Sarah, saying they are named as legal guardians in his will.

Davidson County Sheriff David Grice told the Irish Daily Mail that that they were taken away and interviewed on tape.

A guardianship hearing is due to take place today to determine whether the children can return home.

He said: “Those people were the wife and the wife’s father”. His body was flown to Dublin, on a Delta flight, with the help of the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust.

David said that they have not been able to contact the kids since arriving in the US last week.

“At this point, the question is: are the children more attached to their life here in the US … or their biological relatives who they’ve not seen as frequently?”

“Tracey got to speak to one of them for 10 seconds before she left Ireland”, he said.

Speaking ahead of the court hearing, David Lynch said: “The family’s focus is on the case… and we ask the people of Ireland to keep us in their thoughts and prayers”.

The father of two moved to the US with his young children four years ago, following the death of their mother Mags.

The Corbett’s have spent tens of thousands of euro in travel, accommodation, and legal costs associated with fighting for custody of Jack and Sarah.

A custody battle between the legal guardians of two Irish-born children and their stepmother who is a suspect in the father’s death is underway in America. “All I want to know is that the two children are on an airplane to come home”. “They need our help”, Ms Fitzpatrick added. I know that help has been offered through the Consulate in the United States.

“The Consulate and the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Government is there to assist the family and wants to assist the family but I understand that this process is something that has to take place under US law but the assistance is there and will be provided in whatever way it can be”.