SouthernWorldwide.com – A migrant wanted in connection with the brutal murder of an American mother in Ireland was present in the country despite his asylum application being rejected, according to Irish media reports.
The man, identified by Irish police as a “person of interest,” was in the process of appealing the asylum decision. This allowed him to remain in Ireland when Jamey Carney, 43, was found beaten and suffocated in her Killarney, County Kerry home, the Irish Mirror reported.
Despite his asylum status, the outlet noted that he still possessed his passport. He departed Ireland on a flight to Istanbul, Turkey, before Carney’s body was discovered on Tuesday. This discovery triggered an international manhunt and a murder investigation.
The exact date of his asylum refusal and the reasons behind it remain unclear. Irish police have so far declined to name the individual.
The reports are expected to increase scrutiny on Ireland’s asylum system. Questions are being raised about why the man was permitted to stay in the country after his asylum request was reportedly denied.
The Irish Mirror further reported that the Jordanian national had arrived in Ireland in 2024. He had been residing in a state-run migrant shelter in the picturesque town. He began spending increasing amounts of time at Carney’s home after they became romantically involved.
His journey to Ireland involved arriving in the United Kingdom first. He then traveled through Northern Ireland before ultimately settling in County Kerry, according to the Irish Mirror.
His social media activity shows posts from both the United Kingdom and Turkey in recent years, providing some insight into his movements.
Carney’s social media profiles described her as a “New Yorker in Ireland.” They also featured photos of her with a man she identified as her partner, with captions indicating they were a “mixed couple.” Multiple Irish media outlets have identified this man as the individual police are seeking. However, Irish police have not publicly confirmed his identity or his immigration status.
Detectives believe Carney died around 11 p.m. on Monday. Her body was discovered approximately 14 hours later, 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 the time her body was discovered, the man had already boarded a flight to Istanbul. He had traveled 200 miles by bus to reach Dublin Airport.
The manhunt has now entered its sixth day. Police have yet to name or provide specific details about the individual on the run, drawing criticism from both sides of the Atlantic. Irish police stated that investigators are collaborating with international law enforcement partners as the murder investigation progresses.
According to The Irish Independent, detectives issued alerts to airports, ports, train stations, and bus stations within just over an hour of Carney’s body being discovered. However, by that time, the man had already left Ireland.
Investigators now fear that he may have already traveled onward to his home country of Jordan. This is a concern because Jordan does not have an extradition treaty with Ireland, according to the Irish Mirror.
Carney, originally from New York, relocated to Ireland in 2021. She has family residing in the Killarney area.
