Carly is the ex-girlfriend of conman Ally Gorman. In September 2012, Callum Kane (whose sister Ash was dating Ally) called Karen, who recognised Ally as "Brad". Carly confronted Ally, he having left after 18 months together. Carly had feared that Ally may have been taken hostage or had stood on a landmine.
Ash was suspicious when Karen brought up that he was in the army, and Carly revealed that Ally had served with her husband and comforted him when he died, which Ally said was true. Carly asked for Ally to return home with her, but Ally told her that he could not fill her late husband's shoes. Ash exploded and demanded that they left.