Sometimes a headline hits a small town like a physical blow. In Marquette, Michigan, that blow landed in February 2025. You’ve probably seen the name Dr. Colin Irish floating around social media or local news clips, usually attached to words like "felony" or "investigation." It’s one of those stories that makes you do a double-take because the details feel like they belong in a dark thriller, not a quiet Upper Peninsula township.
Honestly, the reality is a lot messier than a single news snippet can convey. We're talking about a man who was once a Marine, an osteopathic doctor with decades of experience, and a practitioner of acupuncture who suddenly became the face of a massive child abuse scandal.
The Arrest That Shook Marquette Township
On February 18, 2025, the Marquette County Sheriff’s Office arrested Dr. Colin Irish, then 57, and his wife, Carrie Irish. This wasn't a snap decision by the police. It followed a deep dive by Child Protective Services (CPS) into what was happening inside their home.
The allegations were—to put it bluntly—harrowing.
According to police reports and court testimony, the couple’s 10-year-old son, who has special needs, was being kept in a closet. This wasn't just a "time-out" spot. Authorities say the boy was locked in an unheated closet for several hours a day over the course of several months. He reportedly slept on a linoleum floor with no mattress, no pillow, and no blanket, often wearing nothing but his underwear.
The physical environment of the closet was even more disturbing. Investigators found that the walls had been modified with plastic sheet panels. There were no windows and no heating vents. When the boy was finally removed from the home, he had to be treated at UP Health System-Marquette for potential frostbite on his feet.
More Than Just One Incident
If you thought it ended with the closet, the court records suggest otherwise. As the investigation widened, the charges against the Irishes grew. By March 2025, the legal situation had snowballed. Two other family members living in the home—Carrie’s mother, Linda Maxson, and her sister, Michelle Maxson—were also brought into the case.
Basically, the prosecution's argument was that this wasn't an isolated lapse in judgment by one person. It was a household environment where multiple adults were allegedly aware of or participated in the neglect.
The Breakdown of Charges
By the time the case was bound over to the 25th Circuit Court in late 2025, Dr. Colin Irish was facing a mountain of legal trouble:
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- First-Degree Child Abuse: Multiple counts, some involving the presence of another child.
- Second-Degree Child Abuse: The original charge that started the investigation.
- Failure to Report: As a licensed physician, Irish is a mandated reporter. He was charged with failing to report the very abuse happening under his roof.
The legal weight of these charges is massive. First-degree child abuse in Michigan can carry a sentence of up to life in prison.
The Medical Career Before the Fall
To understand why this shocked the community so much, you have to look at who Dr. Colin Irish was before the 2025 arrest. He wasn't some shadowy figure; he was a visible part of the local healthcare system.
Born and raised in Michigan, Irish served four years in the Marine Corps before heading to medical school in Iowa. He graduated from Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1998. For over 25 years, he built a reputation as a DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine), specializing in family practice and Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT).
In November 2020, he opened Irish Family Practice on North Third Street in Marquette. He used a "Direct Primary Care" model, which meant patients paid a monthly fee for more one-on-one time and "unrushed" visits. People liked him. He did acupuncture. He sat and listened. He even served as the Medical Director for the Iron County Medical Care Facility in Crystal Falls.
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But there were cracks in the professional facade even before the abuse allegations surfaced.
The 2024 Probation You Might Have Missed
Kinda surprisingly, Dr. Irish was already on thin ice with the state of Michigan months before his arrest. In November 2024, the Michigan Board of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery placed him on 18 months of probation.
Why? An investigation by the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) found that he had violated the Public Health Code. The issues weren't related to child safety at the time, but rather his practice:
- Failure to document why he was prescribing certain controlled substances.
- Not referring patients to pain or addiction specialists when necessary.
- Failing to monitor patients with required drug screens.
He didn't admit to the claims but agreed to a consent order where the allegations were treated as true. He paid a $2,500 fine and was supposed to be under watch. Then, just three months into that probation, the sheriff's deputies showed up at his door.
Where the Case Stands Now
As of early 2026, the case against Dr. Colin Irish, Carrie Irish, and the Maxsons has moved into the circuit court phase. All four defendants waived their preliminary examinations in September 2025, a move that essentially sends the case toward a trial or a plea agreement.
The community impact has been permanent. Irish Family Practice is closed. The Iron County Medical Care Facility immediately severed ties with him. Most importantly, the three children who were in the home—the 10-year-old and two younger brothers—were placed into foster care immediately following the initial investigation.
The "doctor" title usually carries a level of inherent trust. This case has forced a lot of people in Marquette to grapple with how that trust can be misplaced.
Actionable Insights for the Community
While the legal system handles the Irish family, there are real-world takeaways for everyone else. Child abuse isn't always visible in the way we expect, and "professional status" is never a guarantee of safety.
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- Trust Your Gut on Mandated Reporting: If you see something that feels wrong, even if the person involved is a "pillar of the community," report it. CPS and local advocacy centers like Northern Lights Child Advocacy Center are there specifically for these situations.
- Verify Medical Standing: You can check any Michigan doctor's disciplinary history through the LARA Verify a License portal. It would have shown Irish’s probation status as early as late 2024.
- Support Local Advocacy: Organizations like Northern Lights played a huge role in this investigation. Supporting them helps ensure they have the resources to interview and protect children in sensitive cases.
The story of Dr. Colin Irish is still unfolding in the courtrooms of the Upper Peninsula, but the lesson is already clear: the walls of a home—even a doctor's home—can hide things that the public never expects.