In 1608 he and his father Henry were both killed during O'Doherty's Rebellion. Sir Cahir O'Doherty had, like them, been a loyalist to the Crown, but angered at his treatment by local officials he rebelled and burned Derry. His forces rampaged across Ulster destroying the lands of those who wouldn't join him. His men attacked Kinnaird and destroyed it but were eventually defeated at the decisive Battle of Kilmacrennan.