At the age of 28 he was lured to his death by the British Forces on the night of November 14, 1920. On Saturday November 20 his body was found in a bog near Barna. He had been shot through the head. The following Tuesday morning after solemn requiem mass the start of the funeral journey took place through the streets of Galway. It was one of the largest ever seen with 3 bishops, 150 priests and in excess of 12,000 mourners participating, as the city he loved paid its last farewell to the dead priest.