Asylum-Denied Migrant Wanted in American Mother’s Killing Remained in Ireland

A migrant sought in connection with the killing of an American woman in Ireland had reportedly been allowed to stay in the country while challenging a rejected asylum claim, according to Irish media.

The man, whom Irish police have described as a “person of interest,” was appealing the decision when 43-year-old Jamey Carney was found beaten and suffocated inside her home in Killarney, County Kerry, the Irish Mirror reported.

The outlet reported that, despite the status of his asylum case, the man still had his passport and left Ireland on a flight to Istanbul, Turkey, before Carney’s body was discovered Tuesday. His departure has since prompted an international search and a murder investigation.

It remains unclear when the asylum application was rejected or the grounds for the refusal. Irish police have not publicly identified the man.

The reports are expected to renew questions about Ireland’s asylum process and how the man was able to remain in the country after his claim was reportedly denied.

According to the Irish Mirror, the Jordanian national arrived in Ireland in 2024 and had been living in a state-run migrant accommodation center in the picturesque town. The outlet reported he later began spending more time at Carney’s home after the two became romantically involved.

He had initially entered the United Kingdom before traveling through Northern Ireland and ultimately settling in County Kerry, the Irish Mirror reported.

His social media accounts contain posts from the United Kingdom and Turkey in recent years.

Carney’s social media profiles described her as a “New Yorker in Ireland” and showed her with a man she identified as her partner and writing that they were a “mixed couple.” Multiple Irish media outlets have identified the man as the person police are seeking, though Irish police have not publicly confirmed his identity or reported immigration status.

INC News asked Irish police and the Department of Justice to confirm reports that he had been refused asylum and was appealing that decision. Neither agency confirmed the reports.

Detectives believe Carney died around 11 p.m. Monday, roughly 14 hours before her body was discovered, according to The Irish Independent.

Her body was found on Tuesday at around 1:30 p.m. local time by her 13-year-old daughter.

By that time, the man had boarded a flight to Istanbul having traveled 200 miles by bus to Dublin Airport.

Despite the manhunt entering its sixth day, police have yet to name or provide any details about the person on the run, drawing criticism on both sides of the Atlantic. Irish police said that investigators are working with international law enforcement partners as the murder investigation continues.

Detectives issued alerts to airports, ports, train stations and bus stations within just over an hour of Carney’s body being discovered, The Irish Independent reported. However, by then, the man had already left Ireland.

According to the Irish Mirror, investigators now fear he may already have traveled onward to his home country of Jordan, which does not have an extradition treaty with Ireland.

A law enforcement source told INC News the search is expected to be difficult because the man had a significant head start before investigators were alerted to Carney’s death.

Carney, a New York native, moved to Ireland in 2021 and has family living in the Killarney area.

The State Department told INC News it was providing consular assistance to the victim’s family.