I wanted to express here my sincere thanks to all who have shown such tremendous friendship and support to our family on both sides of the Atlantic, not just in the past couple of trying weeks, but ever since Jason was killed in 2015. Many of you are now friends, but many of you are also strangers. What unifies us is that, no matter where you are from, or what continent you live on, when something so fundamentally wrong and appalling occurs such as Jason’s vicious murder and the abuse of his children, it unifies people, as human beings and citizens of the world. This isn't about anger or revenge, this is about a will to honour those we love and shine a light on truth and justice. All children, not just Jason's, need to live in a world where they see that there is justice, honesty and fairness.
From the moment I touched down in the US on August 4th 2015 and was met by the nicest man from Charlotte, we experienced such kindness. Everyone from the staff at the hotel we stayed in, to those working in the local restaurants in the TRIAD area were all so kind to us at such a sensitive time. To the police officers and all those working tirelessly with the District Attorney's team for Justice for Jason, I am eternally thankful for all your work over the past five years and eight months. To the community in North Carolina of Jason’s colleagues, friends, neighbours and those who have listened to the overwhelming evidence from the beginning of this nightmare and are hearing now the voices of the only other people who lived in the house with Martens, I want to thank you all for giving hope, determination and comfort to our family. For those who showed up to court this week, you may not have been allowed in to court due to Covid restrictions but we felt your solidarity.
To our community in Limerick, you have been amazing. From the lovely gestures - baked cupcakes, wonderful notes and letters that moved us to tears with their generosity of spirit, flowers, cooked dinner, visiting the shop as we quarantined -to those who began the petition to support us, we felt your love and support and truly appreciate it.
The solidarity shown restores our faith in humanity. No matter where this path will take us we have wonderful love and memories of Jason in our hearts and minds. His smile, kindness and love of his beautiful children, his friendship and personality will not be forgotten. Today, we will honour Jason , hug all our beautiful children closely , and live life as Jason would have wanted. We have a wedding to look forward to, schools to plan for and futures to focus on. ... Thank you to all of you.
