Before news broke about the tragic death of Irish musician Sinéad O’Connor, police found the “Nothing Compares 2 U” singer at home unresponsive. Though, officials say, her death is not considered the result of foul play. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
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On Wednesday (July 26), O’Connor’s family confirmed the singer’s death. O’Connor, who lived years battling mental health issues, was just 56 years old.
O’Connor’s family released a statement on Wednesday (July 26) regarding her passing, saying, “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinéad,” the statement read. “Her family and friends are devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time.”
The news of O’Connor’s death came some 18 months after her son Shane took his own life in January 2022 at age 17. Days after he was found dead, O’Connor was hospitalized following a series of disturbing tweets.
According to NME, in a statement from police, authorities said they received a 911 call regarding the singer, adding, “Police were called at 11.18am on Wednesday 26 July to reports of an unresponsive woman at a residential address in the SE24 area.” The statement continued, “Officers attended. A 56-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene.”
Many from the world of music shared their thoughts regarding the late singer. And the musician Morrissey has shared some choice works, criticizing the media. Famously, O’Connor was vilified in the media for both shaving her head and for criticizing the Catholic church for its abuse of young children.
Wrote Morrissey in a blog post, “The cruel playpen of fame gushes with praise for Sinead today … with the usual moronic labels of ‘icon’ and ‘legend’. You praise her now ONLY because it is too late. You hadn’t the guts to support her when she was alive and she was looking for you. The press will label artists as pests because of what they withhold … and they would call Sinead sad, fat, shocking, insane … oh but not today!”
For more on the artist, fans can check out the recent Showtime documentary, Nothing Compares.
Photo by Joseph Okpako/Redferns via Getty Images
