MARQUETTE – Law enforcement removed three children from a residence in Marquette following an investigation into alleged child abuse.

On Monday, Feb. 17, deputies from the Marquette County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a residence in Marquette Township investigate allegations of child abuse obtained from Child Protective Services (CPS).

Deputies made contact with homeowners Dr. Colin Irish, 57 and his wife, Carrie Irish, 49.

Allegedly, the couple locked their 10-year-old special needs son in a closet for several hours a day over several months.

The allegations are that the couple forced their children to sleep only wearing underwear. The child was refused a mattress, blanket or pillow and forced to sleep on the closet floor.

There were no heating vents, windows, and the closet walls were modified with plastic sheet panels, linoleum floors and a lock on the doors exterior to prevent the child from leaving.

The child defecated and urinated on the closet multiple times and was then forced to clean it, leaving a strong odor of cleaning solution.

CPS removed all three minor children from the Irish home placing them temporarily in foster care.

The 10-year-old child was transported by EMS to UPHS-Marquette and treated for possible frostbite to the child’s feet and then turned over to foster care.

The next day, Tuesday, Feb. 18, the couple was arrested for second degree child abuse which is a felony punishable up to 10 years in the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC).

Colin posted at $25,000 cash and bond and Carrie posted 10 percent of the $25,000 bond.

Both individuals have been released from custody and are ordered to have no contact with the three minor children.

The Marquette County Sheriff‚’s Office was assisted in the investigation by CPS and the Northern Light’s Child Advocacy Center.

Both individuals are scheduled for a preliminary hearing on March 13 at 2:30 p.m. in the 96th District Court of Marquette.