The family of the suspect involved in the murder of an American mother in Ireland this month has expressed concerns over “racist” and “negative” comments circulating online regarding their son, who was arrested in Jordan.
Jamie Carney, a 43-year-old mother originally from the U.S., is believed to have died from suffocation after an assault at her home in Killarney, Ireland.
Her former boyfriend, Ahmad al-Saqar, who previously sought asylum in Jordan, allegedly fled shortly after Carney’s death, first to Turkey and then back to his homeland, which lacks an extradition agreement with Ireland.
Meanwhile, as reported by Dublin’s journal, al-Saqar has been taken into custody by the Jordanian Directorate of Public Security.
The reason for this arrest remains unclear, considering Irish authorities have yet to issue an arrest warrant. For now, al-Saqar is referred to as a “key person of interest” in the investigation.
In addition, reports indicate that the family of the suspect, who previously applied for asylum, plans to pursue legal action against defamation or “racist incitement” stemming from online comments about their son.
They have engaged a “legal team” to collect evidence for a complaint to the Jordanian police’s cybercrime unit, addressing what they describe as a “malicious attempt” to incite racism and create division between Jordanian and Palestinian communities.
The family asserts that online comments have “insulted the dignity of the young man and the reputation of the al-Skoul tribe throughout the country.”
They intend to take action against anyone disparaging “tribal members or their families” or disrespecting “tribal customs and traditions.”
“We believe in justice and the judicial process. We will not tolerate any individual or platform acting as judge or jury,” they stated.
There’s still no official clarity regarding a motive for Carney’s murder; Irish Independent reported that just a week before her death, she showed a message from al-Saqar demanding €5,000, as confirmed by police during their search of her phone.
The Independent also mentioned that al-Saqar revealed to a former roommate that he had married Carney under Islamic law at a mosque earlier this year. It was noted that the couple met more than two years ago at a pro-Palestinian demonstration.
In response to the tragedy, U.S. Ambassador to Ireland Edward Walsh expressed his “saddening and disturbing” feelings regarding Carney’s murder, describing her as a person with “extraordinary compassion, generosity, and humanity.”
“Our hearts are with Jamie’s daughter, mother, sister, and all who loved her. Our thoughts are especially with her children, who are enduring an unimaginable loss.”
