Jamey Carney, left, with her daughter Michaela, from GoFundMe.org
By Dan Murphy
The tight-knit communities of both Yonkers, New York, and Killarney, Ireland, have been devastated by the tragic murder of 43-year-old Jamey Carney.
A New York native who grew up in Westchester County, Jamey was a graduate of the Class of 2001 at Byram Hills High School in Armonk. She was widely known as a proud, vibrant member of the Irish-American community along McLean Avenue in Yonkers. Deeply connected to her Irish heritage, Jamey made the life-changing decision to relocate to Ireland in 2021 with her young daughter, Michaela, seeking to raise her in a country she deeply loved. They settled in the scenic tourist town of Killarney, County Kerry, where Jamey worked for a healthcare outsourcing firm.
The Tragedy in Killarney
On Tuesday, July 7, 2026, the community’s worst fears were realized when Jamey’s body was discovered in an upstairs bedroom of her Killarney home by her 13-year-old daughter, Michaela.
An autopsy conducted by the Irish State Pathologist confirmed that Jamey died of suffocation. Evidence gathered by local law enforcement, the Gardaí, indicated that she bravely fought back against her attacker.
In the immediate aftermath of the crime, her killer fled the scene, boarding a bus to Dublin Airport, where he took a flight to Turkey. Gardai quickly established that the perpetrator was known to Jamey and had been inside her home prior to the attack.
International Manhunt Leads to Arrest
The prime suspect was identified as 28-year-old Jordanian national Ahmad Al-Saqar, Jamey’s former boyfriend. Al-Saqar, an asylum seeker who had previously lived in the United Kingdom and France before arriving in Ireland, had been in a relationship with Jamey for several months.
A massive international manhunt involving the Gardaí, Interpol, Europol, and United States authorities culminated in a major breakthrough. Jordan’s Public Security Directorate tracked down and arrested Al-Saqar in his home country. Jordan’s interior and justice ministries have since confirmed that Al-Saqar has been referred to the Public Prosecutor of the Major Criminal Court and will be detained as the investigation continues. Because Ireland and Jordan do not share an active extradition treaty, international authorities are working closely to navigate the legal process to bring him to justice.
Supporting Michaela and the Carney Family
In the wake of the tragedy, Jamey’s mother, Kathy, and sister, Devon Bennett, immediately traveled to Ireland to comfort Michaela and coordinate with the Killarney Garda and social services. Their goal is to support Michaela as she grieves and help her remain in the land she and her mother loved so much.
Two community-led fundraising efforts have been established to assist the family with sudden travel, legal, and memorial costs, as well as to secure Michaela’s long-term future:
- BHHS Class of 2001 Fundraiser: Organized by Jamey’s high school classmates and friends, 100% of these funds go directly to her mother, Kathy, to manage for Michaela.
- Support this campaign: GoFundMe – Classmates for Michaela Carney.
- Family Memorial & Care Fund: Managed by Jamey’s sister, Devon Bennett, alongside family friends, this campaign directly offsets the heavy financial burden of emergency international travel, legal fees, and upcoming memorial services.
- Support this campaign: Search “Devon Bennett” on GoFundMe for the “Jamey Noel Carney Memorial Fund”.
Jamey is remembered by those who knew her in both New York and Kerry as an incredibly caring, passionate person who spent her life advocating for the rights of others. Her legacy lives on through her daughter and the deep impact she left on two communities separated by an ocean, yet united in grief.
- Following a coordinated effort by the Gardaí, Interpol, Europol, and US authorities (including the FBI’s legal attaché in London), Jordan’s Public Security Directorate tracked down and arrested 28-year-old Ahmad Al-Saqar in his home country.
- Official Detention: Jordan’s interior and justice ministries confirmed his arrest. He has been officially referred to the Public Prosecutor of the Major Criminal Court, which ordered him detained for 15 days at a Correctional and Rehabilitation Center while their investigation continues.
2. The Legal Complexity: No Extradition Treaty
The primary hurdle in bringing Al-Saqar back to face trial in Ireland is the lack of formal legal infrastructure between the two nations:
- The Treaty Gap: Ireland and Jordan do not have an active bilateral extradition treaty. Under normal circumstances, a country cannot easily force the return of a suspect without one.
- Current Warrant Status: The Gardaí have confirmed they have not yet issued a formal Irish arrest warrant or made an official extradition request to Jordanian authorities. Irish police are currently preparing a comprehensive case file for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to determine formal