Confirmed: Molly and Thomas Martens will remain in US prison until next summer

THE KILLERS of Limerick man Jason Corbett will not be released this week, as reports from the US had stated on Monday, with the father and daughter now expected to stay behind bars until 2024.

Tom Martens (73) and Molly Martens (40) were sentenced to serve between seven months and 30 months in prison for the killing of Mr Corbett, from Janesboro in Limerick, in August 2015.

However, on Monday, the North Carolina prison service said that Mr Martens would be freed on Tuesday, while Ms Martens would be freed on Wednesday.

Since this news broke, however, the North Carolina Department of Corrections (NCDP) has reportedly told numerous local news outlets in the US that a mistake had been made in calculating their release dates. 

It is now understood that the killers of the Janesboro-born father-of-two (pictured, below) will be kept behind bars, with the current projected release dates for both being June 27, 2024. 

The 39-year-old businessman was killed in his home in North Carolina leaving his two children, Jack and Sarah Corbett, orphaned. 

In a post on X on Tuesday, Sarah said the news yesterday of the early release had caused “pain and confusion.” 

The family have called for an apology to be issued for causing both Sarah and her brother Jack “pain, anguish and upset”.

Ms Martens, who married Mr Corbett in 2011, and her father, were initially convicted of second-degree murder At the time, the pair were given 20- to 25-year prison sentences. However, this was overturned following an appeal two years ago.

As part of a plea agreement in October, Martens did not contest a charge of voluntary manslaughter, while her father pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter.

This resulted in prosecutors dropping charges of second-degree murder as part of the plea agreement.

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They were then handed sentences for a minimum term of four years and three months. However, they were given full credit for the three years and eight months they had already spent behind bars. 

In response to a query from Limerick Live, a spokesperson for the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction stated: "After further review, the initial projected release dates calculated in response to resentencing for Molly Corbett and Thomas Martens were found to be incorrect. The current projected release dates for both are June 27, 2024. Corbett and Martens will be transferred to state prison facilities to complete the remainder of their sentences."