Limerick companies reject Molly Martens’ birthday bid

THE stepmother of Jack and Sarah Corbett, Molly Martens, was planning to fly a banner over Limerick city to mark the young boy’s 11th birthday, it has emerged.

However, several aerial advertising companies pulled out of carrying out the request from Ms Martens, and members of her extended family.

The American woman, who is regarded as a person of interest in the violent death of Janesboro man Jason Corbett in America on August 2, planned to fly a message: ‘Jack and Sarah, Happy Birthday, love Mommy’.

Michael Earnest, an uncle of Ms Martens said of the message: “The first company we contacted was in Ireland, and the second, a US-based firm which brokers this sort of thing around the world. The Irish firm initially said they could do it but they backed out.”

The American firm were willing to fly the message, but the pilot they found in Ireland backed out at the last minute,

Jack and Sarah returned to Limerick in late August, but only after a protracted legal battle with Ms Martens, who sought custody of the pair.

Judges in North Carolina, however, ruled that Jason’s sister, Tracey Lynch, who heads Tait House Community Centre, should look after the pair, aged eight and 11. Mr Corbett was laid to rest in his native Limerick a month ago.

The Limerick Leader was also contacted by Mr Earnest regarding a half-page advert Ms Martens wished to take out.

However, this newspaper replied that the view was such that the advert would not be appropriate, given the sensitive situation surrounding the case, which remains ongoing.