Karen 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 "James". Karen confronted Ally, he having left after nearly a year together, furious that she woke up one morning to find that he had disappeared. Karen was left even more furious as she had been warned off Ally by her family, who made their warnings clear when Ally left.
Ally told Karen and his other ex-girlfriends Carly and Honey that he did them a favour. Ally points out that he looked after her kids as she studied at University, but Karen told him that she was worried as to whom she let into her house. Ally told her that he would never hurt her kids, but Karen informed him that the kids were upset by his abrupt departure. Karen asked for Ally to return home with her as having a job meant that she needed help looking after her children. Ash exploded and demanded that they left, with Karen warning Ally that he would hear from her again.