Sinéad O’Connor, 56, dies 18 months after teenage son Shane’s death aged 17

The late musician’s death comes 18 months after her teenage son Shane sadly died at the age of 17 in January 2022, who she described at the time in a tribute as the ‘light of her life’.
The Dublin-born singer’s family released a statement confirming the news of her death to RTE and The Irish Times, which read: ‘It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinead.
‘Her family and friends are devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time.’
O’Connor had four children: Jake, Brigidine, Shane and Yeshua.
In January last year, it was announced that Shane had died at 17 years old.
In a statement released at the time, O’Connor expressed her devastation over the loss of her son, who she shared with musician Donal Lunny.
‘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,’ she said.
Shane’s death was confirmed after he had gone missing earlier in the week.
In a social media post commemorating her late child, O’Connor shared the Bob Marley song Ride Natty Ride, saying that it was ‘for my Shaney’.
‘The light of my life. The lamp of my soul. My blue-eye baby,’ she wrote.
‘You will always be my light. We will always be together. No boundary can separate us.’
In June 2022, O’Connor announced that she was cancelling all of her upcoming live shows for the remainder of the year following the death of her son.
‘We would like to respectfully announce that due to continuing grief over the tragic loss of her beloved son Shane earlier this year, Sinead O’Connor will not be performing live in 2022,’ her management said in a statement.
‘This has not been an easy decision for Sinead but a decision she has had to make for her own health and wellbeing at this time.’
In the statement, they said that they wanted to express their gratitude to O’Connor’s ‘friends and fans whose support and understanding we hold in the. highest esteem throughout this period’.
‘The love being shown has been a source of great comfort and peace for Sinead,’ they concluded.
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