Corbett kids all smiles at fundraiser
A STAR Wars fundraiser last night used ‘The Force’ to raise funds for the children and family of slain Irishman Jason Corbett.
Mr Corbett’s children, Jack and Sarah, and their cousins posed with Jedi knights and Stormtroopers at the Odeon in Limerick, at a special VIP screening of the new Star Wars movie, The Force Awakens.
Mr Corbett, 36, was found dead at his home in North Carolina, USA, last August after he sustained serious head injuries.
His wife Molly Martens and her father Thomas, a former FBI investigator, have been questioned by police over the death but have not been officially named as suspects.
A file has been prepared for the District Attorney’s Office in Davidson County, North Carolina, to consider whether or not charges will be made against Ms Martens and/or her father.
Following his death, Mr Corbett’s children – Jack, 11 and Sarah, ten, whose mother Mags Corbett died from an asthma attack in 2006 – were placed in the care of his sister Tracey Lynch and her husband David.
This followed a custody battle with Ms Martens, the youngsters’ stepmother.
Limerick friends Jason Nash and Mike Buckley, who have helped raise funds for a number of charities, came up with the idea of a Star Wars fundraiser.
All monies raised will go towards the Jason’s Journey charity set up by Mr Corbett’s family, after they were hit with massive legal bills from the custody battle in the US.
The family have incurred legal fees of over €130,000, in addition to other costs. Around €30,000 has been raised to date.
Mr Nash, who is one of Jack’s rugby coaches at Young Munster, explained yesterday: ‘Myself and my friend Mike Buckley have raised money for all sorts of charities including Crumlin Children’s Hospital, and for kids with autism.
‘We always try to do it with a big production and try something different. I got in touch with the people who have Star Wars costumes and they’re coming down for tonight’s event.’
And regarding young Jack’s rugby abilities, Mr Nash added: ‘Jack plays in the out-half position and out on the wing, and he’s showing plenty of promise.
‘He’s not frightened of the contact side of the game.’