Gavin Pepper criticised for Fox News comments on Jamey Carney murder investigation
James Cox
Independent Dublin City councillor Gavin Pepper has been criticised over comments he made relating to the Jamey Carney murder investigation on American news outlet Fox News.
Ballymun-Finglas councillor Pepper, who frequently posts anti-immigration content on social media, was referring to a suspect in the investigation fleeing the country. Gardaí believe he travelled to Dublin and caught a flight to the Middle East before Carney's body was discovered in Killarney.
Appearing on Fox, Pepper said: "My appeal to the American citizens watching is: don't come to Ireland, it's not safe. How could you class Ireland as a safe country when they don't even release the identity of an individual who is wanted in relation to the death of one of your own citizens?
"It's very disheartening... the Irish people are upset about it... but at the end of the day, the man got a head start, he's out of the country.
"Do I believe they'll ever find him? It's very unlikely, I hope they do... but at the end of the day, now they're relying on overseas police to do their job. Their job was to do a manhunt... you couldn't script it."
Peppers comments are contradicted by established Garda practice during an investigation. An Garda Síochána generally does not publicly release the names or identities of suspects before they are formally charged.
This is primarily to protect the integrity of the investigation and any subsequent legal proceedings, despite Pepper's suggestion that this was an isolated situation.
Pepper also suggested gardaí did not launch a manhunt. Gardaí said ports and airports were alerted after the discovery of Carney's body, although the person of interest is believed to have already left the State.
Former Irish ambassador to the US Daniel Mulhall and Minister of State Neale Richmond were among those who have criticised Pepper.
Mulhall wrote: "Dear @FoxNews, as a former Ambassador of Ireland to the USA, I respectfully request an opportunity to set the record straight about Ireland. Your interviewee has given a distorted picture. In the interests of balance, you need to hear alternative views."
Dear @FoxNews, as a former Ambassador of Ireland to the USA, I respectfully request an opportunity to set the record straight about Ireland. Your interviewee has given a distorted picture. In the interests of balance, you need to hear alternative views. https://t.co/AblwCD4lA2 pic.twitter.com/Gxg3oYEdlM
— Daniel Mulhall (@DanMulhall) July 13, 2026
Richmond wrote "Ah lads…", and shared a chart from the Global Peace Index which ranked Ireland second only to Iceland in terms of safety.
Ah lads… https://t.co/TAicwMhfSH pic.twitter.com/EVlzGfxJpM
— Neale Richmond (@nealerichmond) July 12, 2026
BreakingNews.ie has contacted Gavin Pepper and An Garda Síochána for comment.
