Jamey Carney whose body was discovered at Homeland Estate, Muckross Road, Killarney (Image: SUPPLIED)
A mum has been found beaten to death in her home, with police launching an urgent manhunt. Jamey Carney, 43, was discovered with serious head injuries at her home in the Homeland Estate on Muckross Road in Killarney, Co Kerry, on Tuesday afternoon.
According to the Irish Mirror, gardai are searching for a man in his 20s who had been living at an IPAS centre in Killarney after arriving in Ireland in the middle of 2024 as an applicant for international protection. The news outlet reported the suspect, described as being from the Middle East, previously lived in France, knew Ms Carney and occasionally stayed at her home. The American-born mother-of-one, originally from New York, had lived in Killarney for around five years and was the mother of a 13-year-old daughter. Ms Carney’s daughter reportedly became concerned for her mother’s welfare at around 1.20pm on Tuesday and alerted a family friend. That friend contacted a man she knew, who immediately phoned gardai. Emergency services attended the property, where Ms Carney was pronounced dead
The American-born mum of one had lived in Killarney for the past five years (Image: Irish Mirror)
According to the Irish Mirror, Ms Carney’s body had been covered with a duvet after she suffered serious head injuries during what sources described as a brutal attack.
The newspaper reported investigators believe she was beaten to death late on Monday night or during the early hours of Tuesday and may have remained undiscovered for up to 13 hours.
It also reported that an argument between Ms Carney and a man was allegedly heard at the house on Monday night.
A source told the Irish Mirror: “There is a major search for him.” Another said: “There is no doubt she was murdered.”
A further source added: “It probably happened overnight.”
Local independent councillor Martin Grady, who said he had provided Ms Carney with professional assistance in recent years, paid tribute to her. “I knew her well. Everyone is really shocked,” he said.
Gardai at the scene in Killarney (Image: Don MacMonagle)
He added: “She was a loving mother and a very hard worker. I would encourage people to help gardai in this investigation. No matter how big or small the information they have, please just give it to the gardai. This is an absolute tragedy.”
Fellow councillor John O’Donoghue, of the Kerry Independent Alliance, described the current mood in the town following the news of her death.
“The air has just gone out of the town,” he said, “it is cloaked in sadness.”
In a statement, gardai said: “Gardaí and emergency services responded to an incident at a domestic residence this afternoon. A woman, aged in her 40s, was pronounced deceased at the scene.
“The State Pathologist has been notified and a post-mortem examination will be arranged in due course. The scene is currently preserved for technical examination.
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“A Senior Investigating Officer has been appointed to lead the investigation. An incident room has been established at Killarney Garda station.”
The force also appealed for information, adding: “Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to this incident to come forward.
“Anyone who was in the Muckross Road area of Killarney between the evening of the 6th and the afternoon of the 7th of July 2026 and who may have camera footage, including CCTV or dashcam, is asked to provide this footage to investigating Gardaí.
“Anyone with information is asked to contact Killarney Garda Station on 064 667 1160, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station. Investigations are ongoing.”
