Michael Gunning

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.