American mother Jamey Carney was honored at her funeral as a loving parent who had created a joyful new chapter in Ireland before her life was brought to a brutal and sudden end.
Carney, 43, originally from New York, relocated to Ireland in 2021 with her teenage daughter. She was found dead last week in her home in Killarney, County Kerry, after being violently beaten and suffocated. According to Irish media reports, a Jordanian man whose asylum claim in Ireland had failed, and who had been romantically linked to Carney, was arrested in connection with the investigation after allegedly leaving Ireland through Istanbul and returning to Jordan.
Family, friends and members of the local community filled St. Mary’s Cathedral in Killarney to say goodbye during a funeral service centered on Carney’s life and the happiness she found in her adopted home. The ceremony was also livestreamed so loved ones across the world could take part before a private cremation was held.
Jamey Carney’s remains are carried from St. Mary’s Cathedral in Killarney by her mother, Kathleen, her sister Devon, who has blue hair, and other relatives in Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland, on Wednesday, July 15, 2026. The 43-year-old New York native was found dead in her home on July 7. (Michael Mac Sweeney/Provision for INC News)
“Today we don’t dwell on Jamey’s death, but we dwell on her life,” Fr. Kieran O’Brien told those gathered for the service.
In his remarks, O’Brien looked back on Carney’s childhood in New York with her sister, Devon, and spoke about the “big decision” she later made to begin again in Killarney — a move he called “the best decision of her life.”
He said Carney and her daughter, Michaela, had embraced Killarney as home, with Michaela settling into school life and throwing herself into Irish sports.
O’Brien remembered Carney as someone whose “joy radiated” through the people around her. After moving to Killarney, she formed a close network of friends and took pleasure in the everyday things she loved most, including country music, travel, shopping, concerts and time spent in good company.
“She was happy in life and she was happy with life because life was good to her,” he said.
“But her real love in life was you, Michaela,” he added, addressing Carney’s daughter.
“We thank God for Jamey’s life, remembering at all times her joy, and the ray of sunshine that she brought to all of your lives,” he added.
Jamey Carney’s sister Devon, is consoled at the funeral for the 43 year-old at St Mary’s Cathedral, Killarney, Kerry, Ireland, Wednesday, July 15, 2026. The New York native was found dead in her home on July 7. (Michael Mac Sweeney/Provision for INC News)
Family members carried a series of personal items to the altar celebrating Carney’s life, including photographs of her daughter, Michaela, and her dog, Penny. A cowboy hat symbolizing her love of country music, the passports she and Michaela used to start their new life together in Ireland and an angel statue were also brought forward.
A framed photograph of Carney rested atop her coffin, which was positioned before the altar and draped in a white pall.
As Carney’s coffin departed St. Mary’s Cathedral following the funeral mass, young members of Dr. Crokes GAA Club formed a guard of honor outside the church. Carney’s grieving sister, Devon, wearing a Kerry GAA jersey and clutching a sunflower, was distraught as family members gathered around the hearse.
The service centered on celebrating Carney’s life, her family and the community she built in Ireland rather than the disturbing circumstances surrounding her death and subsequent murder investigation.
Detectives believe Carney was killed around 11 p.m. Monday, roughly 14 hours before her 13-year-old daughter discovered her body at about 1:30 p.m. Tuesday. By then, the man had traveled roughly 200 miles by bus to Dublin Airport and boarded a flight to Istanbul, according to the Irish Independent.
Irish police have yet to publicly identify the person they want to question in the investigation or release his name, photograph or any physical description.
Irish police confirmed to INC News they were aware “of the arrest of a male in Jordan by the Jordanian authorities,” but did not identify the man or confirm he was the person of interest in the investigation. Police also confirmed they “have not made any request to the Jordanian authorities for the arrest of any person at this time.”
Irish media have widely identified the man as the person of interest in the investigation, though Irish police have not publicly confirmed his identity.
Ireland does not have an extradition treaty with Jordan, where the man is being detained, according to the Irish Independent.
INC News asked Irish police and Ireland’s Department of Justice to confirm reports that the man had previously been refused asylum while appealing that decision. Neither agency confirmed the reports.
The man had been living in state-run accommodation for asylum seekers in Killarney before spending increasing amounts of time at Carney’s home after they became romantically involved, according to the Irish Mirror.
American citizen Jamey Carney, left, was found dead at her home in Killarney, County Kerry, last week. Irish police have launched a murder investigation into her death. (Jamey Carney/Facebook | iStock)
He first arrived in the United Kingdom before traveling through Northern Ireland and eventually settling in County Kerry, according to the Irish Mirror.
His social media accounts contain posts from the United Kingdom and Turkey in recent years.
Meanwhile, the FBI told INC News it stands ready to assist Irish authorities if requested.
“Through our Legal Attaché in London, we have strong, established relationships and stand ready to assist in any way that the Irish government may request,” the FBI said in a statement.
The State Department told INC News it is providing consular assistance to the family.
