National Army Soldier John Flynn Jr

National Army Soldier John Flynn Jr (aged 19) of 2 Irvine Terrace, East Road, North Wall, Dublin (Bandon)

Date of incident: 2 April 1923

Sources: CE, 3, 6 April 1923; FSS Civil War Deaths; MSPC/3D307 (Military Archives); Keane (2017), 355-56, 422.

Note: Private John Flynn was killed on Monday, 2 April 1923, at the Devonshire Arms Hotel in Bandon ‘by the accidental discharge of a comrade’s rifle. It appears that a soldier had the rifle in his hands when the weapon suddenly went off and the bullet hit Flynn, killing him.’ Flynn belonged to the 15th Infantry Battalion (A Company) of the National Army. His body was brought to the Mercy Hospital in Cork city pending a military inquiry. See CE, 3 April 1923.

Flynn was buried with full military honours in the National Army Plot at Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin on 5 April after a Requiem Mass at St Laurence O’Toole’s Church. See FSS Civil War Deaths. ‘The Brass and Reed Band from Collins Barracks [in Dublin] under Captain T. O’Doherty, with an escort and firing party, accompanied the remains, which were received at the Mortuary Chapel by Rev. Father Fitzgibbon. The final prayers were recited by an army chaplain, and three volleys were fired, and the Last Post sounded over the graveside.’ See CE, 6 April 1923.

During the War of Independence Flynn had served first as a Fianna Éireann scout attached to A Company of the Second Battalion of the Dublin Brigade. He had then joined E Company of the same IRA battalion and brigade. In civilian life he had been a sawyer. His father John Joseph Flynn Sr and his sister Elizabeth Flynn, as well as his aunt Martha Lloyd, all made unsuccessful applications to the Army Pensions Board for a gratuity or allowance. See MSPC/3D307 (Military Archives).