Sinéad O’Connor died of natural causes, reveals coroners report

Sinéad O’Connor died of natural causes, a coroners report has revealed.

In a statement released yesterday (January 9), London’s Southwark Coroner’s Court confirmed that O’Connor passed away in July last year, aged 56 of natural causes, BBC reports.

“This is to confirm that Ms O’Connor died of natural causes. The coroner has therefore ceased their involvement in her death,” the statement reads.

News of O’Connor’s death in July, was confirmed by Raidió Teilifís Éireann who cited a statement from the late artist’s family, reading: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinéad. Her family and friends are devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time.”

The New York Times added that she was found dead in her home in South East London, with police not treating it as suspicious.

The Irish singer-songwriter was best known for her 1990 single ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’, written by Prince as it quickly became a worldwide hit, topping the charts in 13 countries spanning four continents.

O’Connor released 10 studio albums across her decades-spanning career, starting with her 1987 debut ‘The Lion and the Cobra’ to her 2014 release, ‘I’m Not Bossy, I’m the Boss’.

In 2021 O’Connor legally changed her name to Shuhada’ Sadaqat in 2021 after converting to Islam in 2018 however, continued to record, release and perform music under her birth name.

Many music figures and fans shared their tributes to O’Connor after the news of her death including Belfast-based DJ, producer and conductor, David Holmes who added that he had been working with her on a new album just before her death.

According to The Guardian, O’Connor had filmed earlier in the month of her death in her Herne Hill flat, saying she had recently moved there and was hoping to record new songs.

A concert paying tribute to Sinéad O’Connor and the late Pogues’ vocalist Shane MacGowan, is set to take place on March 20 in New York City with performances from the likes of Cat Power and David Gray. Find out more about the ‘Sinéad & Shane’ concert here.

Becky Buckle is Mixmag’s Multimedia Editor, follow her on Twitter