Hunt for Jordanian migrant, 28, who fled Ireland after murder of American girlfriend, 43, who he met at pro-Palestinian protest

By JIMMY MCCLOSKEY, HEAD OF NEWS Published: 19:42, 10 July 2026 | Updated: 19:42, 10 July 2026 A Jordanian migrant is being hunted by police after he fled Ireland following the murder of his American girlfriend who he met at a pro-Palestinian protest. Ahmad Al-Saqar, 28, has been described by Irish police as a 'person of significant interest' in the murder of Jamey Carney, 43, in Killarney, County Kerry, on Monday.  Carney, who was from Westchester County in New York, was found dead the following day.  She was badly beaten, had suffered significant head injuries and is believed to have died of suffocation.  Locals are said to have heard a loud argument in her luxurious home the night before her body was found, which the Gardai (Irish police) are now investigating.  Al-Saqar and Carney, who has a 13-year-old daughter from a previous relationship, met at a pro-Palestinian protest in Ireland around 18 months before her killing. Jamey Carney is pictured with her boyfriend Ahmad Al-Saqar. He is a 'person of significant interest' in the American mother's murder at her home in Ireland last week Carney, who is originally from Westchester County in New York, was found suffocated at her home in Killarney, County Kerry, on Tuesday Al-Saqar first arrived in Ireland in 2024 and applied for asylum shortly afterwards. Irish publications initially declined to name or picture Al-Saqar. The Irish Times reported that  'Gardai are concerned that the killing may be seized upon by the US far right and other figures intent on stirring up racial tensions in the Republic' because of the races of the victim and person of interest.  The Irish Independent and Irish Examiner have since named and pictured Al-Saqar.  Al-Saqar is believed to have fled Killarney early Tuesday and taken a bus to Dublin Airport, around three-and-a-half hours away. He is then thought to have taken a flight to Turkey. Al-Saqar left Ireland before Carney's body had been discovered.  Gardai are now said to be cooperating with international law enforcement to try and track down Al-Saqar, who has not been charged with any crime.  Carney met her boyfriend at a pro-Palestinian protest around 18 months ago. She is pictured attending one such event  Carney-shared an AI-generated image of herself and Al-Saqar in New York's Times Square to celebrate July 4, in a nod to her American roots  She also uploaded an AI-generated image of herself in front of the Great Temple of Petra in a nod to her boyfriend's Jordanian roots  The Irish Examiner reported that Al-Saqar was active on social media after Carney's killing. He is said to have deleted a post from one account and made another less visible to strangers.  Carney shared multiple pictures of Al-Saqar on her social media accounts and spoke lovingly of their relationship.  The final photo she shared was a snap of herself, her daughter and Al-Saqar at an outdoor event with their pet dog. Carney also shared an AI-generated image of herself with Al-Saqar standing in New York City's Times Square to celebrate Independence Day on July 4. Karney shared a photo of her sizable home in Killarney, County Kerry, last year  And last month she uploaded another AI-generated picture of herself and Al-Saqar in front of the Great Temple in Petra, Jordan, in a nod to her boyfriend's roots. 'Soon, inshallah' the image was captioned.   She shared text messages sent to her by Al-Saqar and called him the 'most kind and emotionally intelligent, self-aware person I have ever known.' Carney held both American and Irish citizenship and moved to Ireland in 2021. Her cousin Ryan Fox said she 'loved' living in the Emerald Isle and that Carney's mother Julia Carney can barely function in the wake of her murder. Fox told RTE's Prime Time that Carney's mother is 'very upset' and 'could barely get her words across.'  He said Carney had uploaded a smiling photo two days before her death and that there was 'no indication' that she was undergoing personal difficulties.