James McVeigh

Died

26 December 1891

Age

Rank

Constable

Force

Royal Irish Constabulary

Cause

Drowned

Duty Status

On Duty

Roll of Honour Citation

Drowned in the River Flesk, alongside a colleague, after they both fell in while searching for stolen implements.

Roll of Honour Citation

Drowned in the River Flesk, alongside a colleague, after they both fell in while searching for stolen implements.

Circumstances

Drowned when a bridge they were using over the River Flesk, Dyrrnaculling, County Killarney collapsed due to flooding.

Drowned in the River Flesk, along with his colleague, Constable Patrick Rooney, while searching for implements that had been stolen from the Headford and Kenmare Railway. The two officers were trying to cross the river via a makeshift bridge supported by stakes sunken into the riverbed. Constable McVeigh stepped onto the bridge first followed by Constable Rooney who was then caught by a strong gust of wind and lost his balance. He tried to steady himself by grabbing Constable McVeigh’s cape but both men fell into the river and were swept away by the strong current.