Ireland: Sinead O’Connor’s teenage son found dead

The Irish singer has announced that her 17-year-old son, Shane, ‘the light of her life’, died suddenly.

Irish singer and songwriter Sinead O'Connor.

Sinead O’Connor announced yesterday (Saturday) that her 17-year-old son, Shane, “the light of her life”, had died suddenly.

The singer, 55, said her son, who was reported missing from Tallaght University Hospital in Dublin on Thursday, had “decided to end his earthly struggle”. Police found his body in a suburb of the Irish capital on Friday night.

O’Connor, who shot to superstardom in 1990 with a cover of Prince’s Nothing Compares 2 U, wrote on Twitter early yesterday (Saturday): “My beautiful son, Nevi’im Nesta Ali Shane O’Connor, the very light of my life, decided to end his earthly struggle today and is now with God.

“May he rest in peace and may no one follow his example. My baby. I love you so much. Please be at peace,” O’Connor added. She also posted a link to Ride Natty Ride, by Bob Marley and the Wailers, as a tribute to “the lamp of my soul. My blue-eyed baby”.

pic.twitter.com/zBgw7KvZGC

— Sinead The 1 And Only (@OhSineady) January 8, 2022

When Shane was missing, O’Connor used her social media account to criticise the hospital and questioned how he was allowed to get lost: “Like, how has a seventeen year old traumatised young person WHO WAS ON SUICIDE WATCH in Tallaght Hospital’s Lynn Ward been able to go missing???

“Hospital of course so far refusing to take any responsibility. Anything happens to my son on their watch? Lawsuits.”

Shane’s father is the folk musician Donal Lunny, 74, who split from O’Connor shortly after the boy was born in 2004. She has three other children from three relationships: Jake, 34, a chef, Roisin, 26, a pastry chef, and Yeshua, 14.

O’Connor has been open about her son’s mental health struggles and used social media to plead for help when he went missing in the past, including in January 2019 when Shane was 14.

Last February she asked fans to pray for her son after what she called “a hideous day from hell”.

The Irish Health Service Executive said it could not comment on individual cases.

Last night (Saturday) O’Connor said: “I have now formally identified the remains of my son, Shane. May God forgive the Irish state, for I never will.”

If you or someone you know may be at risk of suicide call Lifeline (13 11 14), the Suicide Call Back Service (1300 659 467) or Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800).

THE SUNDAY TIMES