Sinéad O'Connor's Cause Of Death Is Now Clear
Trigger warning: The following article contains references to suicide.
Irish singer-songwriter Sinéad O'Connor died on July 26, 2023, at the age of 56. The iconic performer and outspoken activist died at her home in London, and her death was not treated as suspicious by the investigating officers. But the London Inner South Coroner's Court confirmed that the medical reason for her death was unknown and that they would be handling her autopsy. Now, nearly six months later, we finally have an answer.
A spokesperson for the coroner has released the following statement: "Ms. O'Connor died of natural causes. The coroner has therefore ceased their involvement in her death" (via The Hollywood Reporter). No additional details were offered but the revelation will surely put fans of the "Nothing Compares 2 U" hitmaker's minds at rest.
In the RTÉ documentary "Sinéad," David Holmes, friend, fellow musician, and producer for O'Connor, talked about what he felt was her true cause of death. Holmes said (via The Irish News), "Even though Sinead was this incredibly resilient survivor, I totally believe that people can die of a broken heart."
Sinéad O'Connor was open about her mental health struggle
Sinéad O'Connor had been open with her struggles with mental health, particularly in the wake of her son's death by suicide at the age of 17 in January 2022. She was hospitalized after her son's death after she posted distressing posts on social media that suggested she was also going to die by suicide. O'Connor had been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, complex post-traumatic stress disorder, and bipolar disorder, according to People. There had been speculation by some that her cause of death was suicide, considering her past history, but the coroner's report dispels that.
She'd moved to London shortly before her death, and she posted about the move on Facebook in a way that seems like she was hopeful and excited for the future: "Hi All, recently moved back to London after 23 years absence. Very happy to be home ... Soon finishing my album. Release early next year." The album title was to be "No Veteran Dies Alone," and it would have been her first album in a decade — what would turn out to be her last completed studio album was 2013's "I'm Not Bossy, I'm the Boss."
If you or anyone you know is struggling or in crisis or needs help with mental health, contact the relevant resources below:
-Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org
-Call the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741, call the National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), or visit the National Institute of Mental Health website.
Sinéad O'Connor's final song release seems to be about her own life
David Holmes revealed that Sinéad O'Connor had only one song left to finish before "No Veteran Dies Alone" was complete. A few months after her death, one of O'Connor's unreleased songs — "The Magdalene Song" — was used in the BBC show "The Woman in the Wall," which includes fictional depictions of the real-life practice of young Irish women who didn't conform to conservative ideals of feminity or chastity being imprisoned in institutions known as Magdalene Laundries, which were run by Roman Catholic religious orders. O'Connor was sent to one of those institutions for 18 months when she was young, and she gave permission for the song's use in the show. O'Connor had long been a public critic of the Catholic Church, including dramatically tearing apart a picture of Pope John Paul II on "Saturday Night Live" in the '90s.
Holmes gave his perspective on the emotional song, telling The Guardian, "In the lyrics Sinéad was trying to say, I think, that though she'd been through great turmoil, it would not stop her being who she wanted to be." No word yet on whether the finished songs on her final album will be released, though hopefully there is a sense of closure for her fans, friends, and family with the coroner's report on her cause of death.