A relative of Molly Martens, the wife of deceased Limerick man Jason Corbett, says she will continue to fight to get her step-children back to the United States.

Ms Martens  and her father have been described as 'persons of interest' in the investigation.

The 39-year-old father of two died after a violent incident at his home in the US earlier this month.

However the Texan native is still attempting to gain custody of Jason's children from a previous marriage, and has also posted messages to the children on Facebook in recent days.

The children have been placed in the guardianship of relatives here - but Ms Martens lawyer, David Freedman, has told Newstalk she will be lodging an appeal.

She says she has not spoken to Jack and Sarah since they left the United States and returned to Corbett family in Limerick.

Ms Martens refused to give any further comment, but asked that we contact her uncle, Mike Earnest.

"Not taking one thing away from their father, but a large part of that - if not the majority of that - is from what they've gotten from their mother" he told Newstalk Breakfast.

"And I will say this: Molly is very, very distraught about what has happened but she has not lost any faith that her children will one day be returned to her care".

"And she's prepared to take every legal step available to see that happen" he added.

He described the last meeting between Molly and Jack and Sarah, at which he was present.