Michael Gunning

Died

:

19 January 1874

Age

:

25

Rank

:

Constable

Force

:

Royal Irish Constabulary

Cause

:

Drowned

Duty Status

:

On Duty

Roll of Honour Citation

Drowned on duty while returning with another Constable from Portmagee Petty Sessions, County Kerry.

While returning from the Portmagee Petty Sessions, County Kerry, Constable Gunning and a colleague were being driven across the mouth of the River Inny, on a sandbank known as ‘The Ford’. The driver, a local farmer from Waterville, was well acquainted with the regularly-used crossing but on this occasion, either through strong waves or a shifting of the sand, the car was upset and Michael and the farmer were swept out to sea and drowned.

The second RIC Constable managed to reach the shore and survived the ordeal.