He was born to Margaret (née Stack) and Henry McEnery at 4 Slieveawaddra [also Slieveadra/Slievadra], Drommartin, County Kerry (Irish: Sliabh an Mhadra, Drom Máirtín, Contae Chiarraí).
He was part of 'Aeroplane' Lyons's column, which had been involved in the burning of a Civic Guard station at Ballyheigue[4] and robbing Ballyduff post office.
He had been captured and imprisoned by the National Army and claimed under interrogation that he was forced to join Lyons's column under fear of death, accused of being a traitor.
The National Army's 1st Western Division supplied reinforcements quickly and pursued the column to Clashmealcon, where the members hid in Dumfort's Cave on the Atlantic cliffs with no possible escape.
[10] Hannah McEnery was granted £250 from the Irish White Cross and their son Henry £1 per week until working age.
McEnery is counted as one of "the seventy-seven", a term made popular amongst Republicans after the writing of Dorothy Macardle in memory of those executed by Free State troops.