Family of Jason Corbett's first wife hit out at 'lies about how our Mags died'

A STATEMENT from the Fitzpatrick family has hit out at "lies about how our Mags died".

Mags Fitzpatrick, the first wife of Jason Corbett, died in November 2006 and her cause of death was listed as a cardio-respiratory attack with a bronco-spasm in a known asthmatic.

This week in a US Court, a retired forensic pathologist has said that the Pallaskenry woman did not die of an asthma attack and that it is possible that Margaret 'Mags' Corbett’s death was a homicide.

The claim was made during a sentencing hearing in North Carolina after Molly Martens and her father Tom accepted a plea bargain over the killing of the father-of-two, Jason Corbett, in 2015.

Tom Martens pleaded guilty to the charge of voluntary manslaughter while his daughter pleaded no contest to the same charge.

Former Kentucky chief medical examiner Dr George Nichols told the US Court that "in my opinion (the Irish pathologist) opinion is completely wrong."

When it was put to Dr Nichols that the death could be a possible homicide he replied: "correct", but stressed that: "it is nowhere close to probable." 

This Friday evening, the Fitzpatrick family made public a statement, which was signed by siblings, Michael Jr, Catherine, Sean, Thomas, Sarah and their mother Marian.

"This week has been an extremely difficult time for all our family especially our mother Marian," said the statement. 

"It has been difficult for everyone who knew Mags and Jason to hear the lies that the people who killed Jason are saying about him as a person. They are wildly inaccurate and untrue. Especially the lies about how our Mags died. 

"Mags suffered with asthma all her life. She would always have to keep her inhalers close by. She also had an nebuliser in her home and had to use it when feeling unwell. On the night she died she used both her inhalers and the nebuliser but they weren’t helping. Mags sister Catherine was living with Jason and Mags at the time of her death and was present the night she passed. Jason woke Catherine and he also rang an ambulance. Jason put Mags in the car and rushed to meet the ambulance on the way. Jason revived Mags before he met the ambulance.

Pathologist tells US court that Limerick man's first wife 'did not die of asthma attack'

"He did everything he could to save the person he absolutely adored and our family have always been grateful for how he tried to save her," outlined the Fitzpatrick family statement.

"Previous to our father's death in 2016, our family were informed that Jason’s killers were going to state that our dad said something to them about Mags death which he never did. Our father Michael went to a solicitor to write an affidavit to set the record straight on their lies. Firstly Michael Fitzpatrick never said what they claim he did and secondly he was never alone with that person to have ever said it."

"We were heartbroken when Mags died, she was the rock in our family, the one we all turned to. She was a great daughter, wonderful sister, loyal friend and a loving wife and mother. We will always miss her but we are extremely grateful to have so many great memories with Mags. We also miss Jason dearly who was a part of our family for a long time even after we all lost Mags and he was always welcomed into our home. Jason was a warm and kind person who loved Mags more than anything else in his life."

"All we have ever wanted is real justice for Jason, as well as peace and closure for Jack and Sarah. No matter the sentencing, we want to set the record straight and let the world know what the truth is. We know how much Jason loved and adored our Mags."

"We hope the facts and truth will speak for themselves, and no amount of lies will tarnish the love Jason and Mags had for one another."

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