Mags sounds like she was just a lovely person in all regards. IIRC, JC mourned her deeply and paid his respects to her, on a very regular basis, after her untimely and tragic death. From all accounts, JC and Mags were soul mates in all aspects of their lives.
Please understand what I am about to say: I wholeheartedly think MM went totally off the deep end on the night of the murder; TM assisted her in planning a "exit" strategy. There is no excuse for MM's social media "campaigns" and other stunts she has pulled since JC's murder.
But- I can see how MM might feel she would never live up to Mags insofar as her role as JC's wife, especially while living in Ireland, hence thinking a move to the US might take some of the pressure of comparing her to Mags. I don't doubt missing her family, etc played a role in her wanting to move as well.
I don't think anyone could have lived up to Mags, and maybe that is okay.... maybe that is fairly common when a young mother of a devoted husbands suffers such a tragedy. I've never been in that situation- married or in a relationship with a widower.
It seems to me there must be a balance between respecting JC's love of Mags and the commitment he made to MM as her husband. I wonder if that balance was ever reached with MM and JC? How much of it was based upon MM's seemingly emotional/mental unbalance? Was the insecurity MM very well had plant the seeds of discord between the two?
The autopsy showed rage and overkill, I agree. But I can't help but wonder if just a little of MM's frustration came from not being Mags.
I can understand why JC didn't want MM to formally adopt the children. Mags was their Mom and out of respect for Mags, I probably would have made the same decision as JC. This, in and of itself, should not have threatened MM. In a healthy family system, she would have been, for all practical purposes, their Mom, whether or not there had been a legal adoption.
I suppose what I am trying to say is Mags was larger than life and I have a feeling JC didn't take the proper time to grieve so he could love another woman properly. I do not think, from what I've read here, there was DV on the part of JC but I do wonder if MM sensed he was still in love with Mags, to the point he was unable to love MM (or any other woman) at that point in his life.
Just an observation from a total outsider... And MOO.