Authorities investigating the killing of a New York mother who had relocated to Ireland are reportedly seeking a Middle Eastern asylum-seeker who is said to have met her at an anti-Israel demonstration — and who may have left the country.
Jamey Carney, 43, was discovered dead Tuesday afternoon by her 13-year-old daughter at the rented home in Killarney where she had lived since moving from Westchester County five years ago, the Irish Sun reported.
Investigators believe Carney was beaten to death and sustained multiple head injuries. Police are also examining reports that a loud dispute was heard at the home, located in an upscale housing development, the night before her body was found.
The individual described as a “person of significant interest” is a 28-year-old migrant from the Middle East who sought asylum after arriving in Ireland in 2024, police told the Irish Independent. He has not been publicly identified.
Carney, who worked for a healthcare consulting firm, had reportedly known the man for about 18 months after meeting him at a pro-Palestine protest, Garda sources told the Irish Sun.
Before her death, Carney had shared a video showing herself wearing a keffiyeh while attending an anti-Israel rally.
“The feeling is that she may have met this individual at an anti-war demonstration and kept in contact over the last number of months,” a police source told the Irish Sun.
Police have circulated alerts at ports and airports amid concerns the man may have fled Ireland before Carney’s body was discovered.
“If this poor woman was killed on Monday night, then her killer would have had sufficient time to travel to another location in the country,” a police source told the Irish Sun.
One theory is that he may have taken a bus to Dublin from Killarney around 3 a.m. Tuesday — several hours before Carney’s daughter found her slain mom — and then boarded a last-minute flight to Istanbul in Turkey, sources told the Irish Independent.
Cops are focusing on contacts he has in both Turkey and France, where he previously spent time, and trying to clarify what travel documents he had, the reports said
However, it is unclear how he could have fled the country as he wouldn’t have had access to his passport due to his open asylum application, the sources said.
Carney’s daughter, who was in the house at the time of the killing, raised the alarm when she called a family friend on Tuesday, and is now being supported by relatives, the Irish Independent reported.
The room was covered in blood, and Carney’s killer had reportedly pulled the bedclothes up over her torso and face before fleeing, the outlet reported.
Cops are examining security footage to determine all movements at and around her house since July 5.
Carney, who was actively involved in local sports and heritage groups, as well as pro-Palestine campaign groups in Ireland, had lifelong connections with the country going back to her teenage years.
Her family is said to be flying to Ireland from the US.
The death was described as “an appalling tragedy” by local councillor Martin Grady, who was a personal friend of Carney.
“She was a loving, caring mother and was always happy and smiling,” he said.
