1884 Mar 4. Born Tralee, Kerry
1901 census at Ballinknock, O'Brennan, Kerry
1907 Mar 18 Enlisted in RIC
1907 Sep 17 Posted to Limerick
1909 Aug 20 Posted to Galway
1916 May 24 Recieved an "unfavourable report" on his service record. No indication of what it was for
1921 Ma y 15 When news of the Ballyturin Ambush got to Gort following May Bagot getting there by pony & trap, a detachment of RIC rushed to the scence. Reports are confused as to what happened next. The British said they were fired on by IRA who were still at the scene and these shots killed Kearney, or it was an accident, collateral damage: or the IRA claim that Kearney was shot by the Crown Forces as they believed that he was an informer. I think it unlikely that that is why he was shot, but it does appear that he was shot by Crown forces, probably by accident.
1921 May 21 Died of his wounds at St Brides Hospital, Galway
Buried at Deansgrange Cemetary , Blackrock, Dublin. With his sister among others
"O'CONNOR \ Mary 7-4-1919 aged 3 months \ John 14-10-1952 \ Mary 9-7-1951 \ Kathleen 6-11-1972 \ John Kearney 21-5-1921. \ Requiescant ar dheis Dé \ Erected by Jimmy with love."