Sinead O’Connor dies, aged 56
Sinead O’Connor’s neighbours have spoken about their interactions with the Irish singer, following her death aged 56.
O’Connor’s death was confirmed by her family in a statement provided to BBC News on Wednesday 26 July. The Dublin-born musician died aged 56, after being found “unresponsive” in “a residential address” in the Lambeth area of London.
According to The Times, O’Connor moved into a new penthouse in south London earlier this month, where she told her neighbours she had moved back to the capital city to feel less lonely.
The publication quoted Pushpakumara Moragamana, 57, who lived opposite. He recalled O’Connor smoking outside the building and discussing religion, mental health, and the death of her son Shane aged 17, last year.
It appears that O’Connor’s neighbours had no idea of her fame. Mr Moragamana said they spoke regularly, and remembered an emotional conversation in which the “Nothing Compares 2 U” star said she felt “devastated and depressed” over the loss of her son.
No medical cause given for Sinead O’Connor’s death
No medical cause was given in the death of Sinead O’Connor and an autopsy will be carried out, London Inner South Coroner’s Court said on Thursday (27 July).
The result of the autopsy may not be available for several weeks, according to a statement on the court website.
Annabel Nugent30 July 2023 09:30
Voices: I can’t believe I agree with Morrissey, but he’s right on Sinéad O’Connor
“I don’t often agree with Morrissey, but I thought he put it well when he raged that ‘the cruel play-pen of fame gushes with praise’ for Sinéad O’Connor now she has died, but ‘hadn’t the guts to support her when she was alive and she was looking for you,’” writes Chas Newkey-Burden.
Chas Newkey-Burden30 July 2023 09:00
Sinn Fein vice president Michelle O’Neill calls Sinead O’Connor a ‘trailblazer’ who ‘led the way,’
‘Trailblazer’ Sinead O’Connor ‘led the way,’ Sinn Fein vice president Michelle O’Neill says
Annabel Nugent30 July 2023 08:00
What did Sinead O’Connor say about her pope stunt?
During a 1992 appearance on SNL, O’Connor controversially ripped up a photo of Pope John Paul II in a protest against the sexual abuse of children by the Catholic Church.
The move led to a huge and lengthy backlash – something O’Connor herself reflected on in her 2021 memoir, Rememberings.
“A lot of people say or think that tearing up the Pope’s photo derailed my career,” she wrote. “That’s not how I feel about it I feel that having a No 1 record derailed my career and my tearing the photo put me back on the right track.”
Annabel Nugent30 July 2023 07:00
Joe Pesci is being called out for historic comments he made about Sinead O’Connor
The Goodfellas actor said he “would have slapped” Sinead O’Connor for tearing up a photograph of the Pope in 1992.
Annabel Nugent30 July 2023 06:00
Read Sinead O’Connor’s open letter to Miley Cyrus
After the release of her viral music video for her hit single “Wrecking Ball”, Cyrus (then 20 years old) told Rolling Stone magazine that she’d been inspired by the O’Connor’s accompanying visuals for “Nothing Compares 2 U” (1990).
In response, O’Connor wrote to Cyrus “in the spirit of motherliness and with love” and told her that it was not “cool” to be “naked and licking sledgehammers in your videos”.
Annabel Nugent30 July 2023 05:00
Pink and Brandi Carlile perform beautiful tribute to Sinead O’Connor
Pink and Brandi Carlile performed a beautiful tribute to the Irish singer during their Wednesday (26 July) night concert in Cincinnati, Ohio after news of her death broke.
The two singers belted a powerful rendition of O’Connor’s famous “Nothing Compares 2 U” track.
Annabel Nugent30 July 2023 04:00
A world in mourning
Several impromptu and scheduled gatherings popped up around different areas of the country to honour Sinead O’Connor following news of her death.
Here’s a scene from one outside of Temple Bar on Thursday (27 July)
Annabel Nugent30 July 2023 03:00
The story of Sinead O’Connor’s ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’ – and her eventful encounter with Prince
While many are paying homage to O’Connor’s expansive musical and political legacy, others are remembering the singer for her 1990 cover of “Nothing Compares 2 U”.
Annabel Nugent30 July 2023 02:00
WATCH: Sinead O’Connor’s stand-out moments
Watch: Sinead O’Connor’s stand-out moments
Annabel Nugent30 July 2023 01:00