Patrick O'Flaherty was the son of Eugene and Mary O'Flaherty, of Cork, Republic of Ireland, and husband of Ellen O'Flaherty, of Ballintemple, Cork. He served with 4th Parachute Battalion, C Coy and took part in Op Dragoon to Southern France. Before this he served with The Royal Warwickshire Regiment.

Patrick successfully passed parachute jump instruction at RAF ringway on Course 29. This course ran between 27 September and 3 October 1942.

Archive records state that Patrick was a Mess Waiter. It is believed he was killed by 'friendly fire' on 15 August 1944. He is now buried at Row C, Grave 46, Mazargues War Cemetery, Marseilles.