KILLARNEY – International police forces are searching for a 28-year-old man in connection with the death of Jamey Carney, whose body was discovered in her home on July 7, 2026.
An Garda Síochána have identified Ahmad Al-Saqar as a “person of significant interest” in the investigation. Investigators believe Al-Saqar fled Ireland via Dublin Airport on a flight to Turkey on the morning of July 7, hours before Ms. Carney’s body was found.
Ms. Carney, a 43-year-old U.S. citizen, was found badly injured in her bed at her residence on Muckross Road. Her body had been covered with bed sheets when discovered at approximately 1:30 p.m. on July 7.
Investigation and International Coordination
Gardaí suspect that Ms. Carney died violently. While official causes are still being finalized pending a post-mortem and further forensic analysis, it is believed she died from suffocation and sustained head injuries.
Al-Saqar, originally from Jordan, had been living in Ireland for more than a year under a temporary residence permission and had been in a relationship with Ms. Carney for several months. He was reportedly with her at the Killarney home on the evening of July 6.
The timeline of Al-Saqar’s departure, as reconstructed by investigators, is as follows:
- July 7, early morning: Departed Killarney via bus to Dublin Airport.
- July 7, morning: Boarded a flight to Turkey.
- July 7, 1:30 p.m.: Ms. Carney’s body discovered by authorities.
While Al-Saqar has not been charged with a crime and has not been added to Europol’s Most Wanted fugitive list, Gardaí are liaising with international agencies through existing European arrest warrant and mutual legal assistance channels to locate him. A source in Europol noted that although it is unusual to add individuals to that list before charges are filed, it can occur if the evidence is sufficiently strong and a domestic arrest warrant is in place under frameworks such as the EU Council Framework Decision on the European Arrest Warrant.
Investigators have also noted that Al-Saqar has remained active on social media following the death, removing posts from one account and altering security settings on another. Garda sources say such activity is being examined as part of the digital evidence trail alongside CCTV, telecommunications data and airline records.
Family Tributes and Impact
Ms. Carney moved to Ireland in 2021 with her 13-year-old daughter after falling in love with the country during a holiday. She was known locally for her devotion to her daughter, her involvement in local sports, and her campaigning for Palestinian rights and freedom.
Ryan Fox, a cousin who grew up with Ms. Carney in Westchester County, New York, described her as one of the kindest and most caring people he had known.
“My Jamey was proud to be Irish and proud to be American, and everybody, in America or in Ireland, knows what a huge heart she had. Jamey loved Ireland so much… She could not love the land of Ireland more.”
Ms. Carney’s mother, Kathy, a psychotherapist, and her sister, Devon Bennett, traveled to Ireland immediately following the discovery of the body. Ms. Bennett described her sister as “an insanely caring human being, who dedicated so much of herself, her energy, and her time, to fighting for the rights of others.”
A GoFundMe campaign has been established to provide financial support for Ms. Carney’s surviving daughter, covering legal fees, travel, and funeral costs. Friends say the fund is also intended to help the family navigate cross-border legal processes and potential inquests in both Ireland and the United States.
Community Response and Social Media Abuse
The death has caused significant distress in the Killarney community. Independent councillor Martin Grady stated that a “black cloud now hangs over Killarney,” describing the event as an “awful shock to the local community.” Local representatives have called for calm and for public cooperation with the investigation.
Following the news, Ms. Carney’s social media profiles became targets for racist and misogynistic abuse. Some posts suggested she “deserved” to be murdered due to her relationship with a man from the Middle East and her support for Palestinian rights, drawing condemnation from local community leaders and prompting fresh questions over the enforcement of Ireland’s harmful and hateful communications and related offences framework.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, confirmed it is investigating the reports of abusive content on its platforms and said content that violates its community standards would be removed. The case is likely to add to political scrutiny of how major platforms respond to online hate in the wake of violent crimes.
In response to the hatred, Ryan Fox urged the public to avoid reacting with prejudice, stating, “Do not use this to become bigoted or racist or prejudiced in any way. Bad people are in every group.”
Official Appeals for Information
A senior investigating officer has been appointed to lead the case, and an incident room has been established at Killarney Garda Station under Ireland’s serious crime protocols. Gardaí stress that the investigation remains in its early stages and that they are keeping an open mind while treating the death as a suspected homicide.
Authorities are appealing to anyone who was in the Muckross Road area of Killarney between the evening of July 6 and the afternoon of July 7 to provide any available CCTV or dashcam footage, or to report any suspicious activity, including sightings of a man matching Al-Saqar’s description.
Information can be reported via the following channels:
- Killarney Garda Station: 064 667 1160
- Garda Confidential Line: 1800 666 111
- Any local Garda station
Investigations are ongoing, and Gardaí say further updates will be provided as significant developments occur.
