LAST UPDATE | 16 Jul

THERE ARE “INNOVATIVE mechanisms” available to gardaí to potentially question a suspect in the Jamey Carney murder case, the Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan has said. 

Ms Carney, an American mother-of-one, was found dead at a home in Killarney, Co Kerry on 7 July.

Ahmad Al-Saqar, who was romantically involved with Ms Carney for a number of months before her violent death, was detained by Jordan’s Public Security Directorate this week.

The 28-year-old Jordanian national had been living in Ireland for a number of years having gone through the international protection system here. 

He had already left Ireland when Ms Carney’s body was discovered in the home she shared with her teenage daughter. 

There is no extradition agreement between Jordan and Ireland, and a person can only be extradited back to Ireland to face charges in court.

Asked today if there was any chance of gardaí being able to question the suspect, O’Callaghan said: “I would hope that the gardaí would be able to speak to that suspect, and I know there’s very good relationships between An Garda Síochána and other police forces throughout the world.

“So I suspect that An Garda Síochána are in touch with their Jordanian colleagues in respect of it.

“We don’t have an extradition agreement in place with Jordan at present, but I don’t think that should necessarily be the the end of it.

“I think there are mechanisms, innovative mechanisms, available that could enable the gardaí to question the suspect out in Jordan, and even perhaps being able to bring him back.”

However, he said he had no timeline for this.

In a statement today, Jordan’s interior and justice ministries said the country received a report from the Irish authorities that a Jordanian citizen was suspected of murdering an American woman in Ireland following an initial investigation. 

It continued: “The statement added that the security authorities immediately launched search and investigation operations and tracked the suspect after locating his residence and whereabouts.

“He was arrested, his statement was taken according to standard procedures, and he was then referred to the Public Prosecutor of the Major Criminal Court.”

Ahmad Al-Saqar.

Al-Saqar is not named in the statement, though The Journal understands he remains detained in Jordan. 

The statement said the court initiated an investigation and “ordered his detention for 15 days at the Correctional and Rehabilitation Center to continue the investigation.”

Gardaí have been in contact with Europol, Interpol and US authorities in relation to the case. 

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A file is to be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions, who will decide if anyone is to be charged in connection with the murder. 

Speaking earlier this week, Tánaiste Simon Harris said the government “will work and support the gardaí and go to the ends of the earth to make sure that justice is brought about for Jamey”.

“Gardaí have a proud track record of working across borders and across jurisdictions,” he added.

Jamey Carney, who was originally from New York, moved to Killarney with her daughter in 2021. Her funeral took place in the Co Kerry town on Wednesday. 

Over 200 people in St Mary’s Cathedral heard that she was “bright, cheerful, full of life” and a “kind person” who was “selfless” in life. 

Fr Kieran O’Brien told those gathered that she had a close circle of friends who matched her sense of adventure, her love for country music, and her love of “coffee, shopping and lunch appointments”.

He said that her “real love” in life was her daughter, who adapted to life in Ireland quickly and joined local sports clubs.

“Five years ago a big decision to move from New York to Ireland was regarded as her best decision. She had heard so much of her Irish roots,” Fr O’Brien said.

With reporting from Eimer McAuley and Press Association