The Heart-Wrenching Death Of Sinead O'Connor's Son
Irish singer Sinead O'Connor is known for her controversial career and her hit song "Nothing Compares 2 U" (via Biography). Although she still performs and makes music, it's clear that O'Connor's sole focus is her four children (per RSVP Live). According to The Mirror, the singer has been married four times and is the mother of Jake, Roisin, Shane, and Yeshua. Jake, her firstborn, is the product of her first marriage, to John Reynolds, a music producer (via Smooth Radio). After the birth of her second child, Roisin, she endured a custody battle with her ex, journalist John Waters, in 1995.
Per The Daily Mail, her third child, Shane, whom she shares with musician Donal Lunny, would be born in 2004. In 2006, she had her final child, Yeshua, with Frank Bonadio. In January 2022, O'Connor announced on social media that her son Shane had gone missing and was asking for his safe return (via People). She stated that her "world would collapse" without him and pleaded with him to not harm himself.
Sinead O'Connor's son was on suicide watch
The Guardian reports that on January 8, authorities confirmed that 17-year-old Shane O'Connor had died. His remains had been found in Bray, a town outside of Dublin. Although a cause of death has not been released, New York Post writes that the teen had "escaped suicide watch" shortly before going missing. With the news of his death, Sinead O'Connor took to social media to write that her son "decided to end his earthly struggle" and her hope that he was now in peace (via People).
According to The Scottish Sun, Sinead is now threatening a lawsuit against the Tallaght Hospital in Dublin, where Shane was on suicide watch. She does not understand how a "traumatized young person" like her son, could have gone missing. She added that the hospital was "refusing to take any responsibility." In a series of heartbreaking messages, O'Connor referred to Shane as the "lamp of my soul" and wrote that "no boundary" could separate them.
If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).