MARQUETTE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WZMQ) – The Marquette County Sheriff’s Office arrested two individuals on a child abuse charge on Tuesday.
On February 17, deputies were dispatched to a Marquette Township residence to investigate allegations of child abuse, which were obtained from Child Protective Services. There, deputies made contact with the homeowners, 57-year-old Dr. Colin Irish and his wife, 49-year-old Carrie Irish.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, it is alleged that over a period of several months, the couple locked their 10-year-old special needs son in a closet for several hours a day. Other allegations include that the two forced the child to sleep wearing only underwear, refused to provide a mattress, blanket, or pillow, and only allowed the child to sleep on the closet floor.
Officials say there were no heating vents or windows, and the closet walls were modified with plastic sheet panels and linoleum floors. A lock on the door’s exterior prevented the child from exiting. The child had defecated and urinated in the room multiple times and was forced to clean it, leaving a strong odor of cleaning solution in the air.
Child Protective Services removed all three minor children from the Irish home and placed them in temporary foster care. The 10-year-old was transported by EMS to UPHS-Marquette and treated for possible frostbite before being turned over to foster care.
On February 18, Colin and Carrie Irish were arrested for second degree child abuse, a felony punishable by up to ten years in the Michigan Department of Corrections. Colin posted a $25,000 cash bond, and Carrie posted 10% of $25,000. Both have been released from custody and are ordered to have no contact with the three children.
The couple is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on March 13 at 2:30 p.m. in the 96th District Court of Marquette. The Sheriff’s Office says they are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The Marquette County Sheriff’s Office was assisted in its investigation by Child Protective Services and the Northern Lights Child Advocacy Center.
