Only about 18 months before her own tragic death, Sinead O'Connor's son Shane passed
away in truly heartbreaking circumstances.
It clearly had a devastating effect on the singer that lasted for the rest of her life.
Irish singer Sinead O'Connor was known for her controversial career and her hit song
"Nothing Compares 2 U."
Although she still performed and made music until her death in July 2023, RSVP Live notes
that her chief focus toward the end of her life became her four children.
According to The Mirror, the singer was married four times and was the mother of Jake, Roisin,
Shane, and Yeshua.
Jake, her firstborn, is from her first marriage to John Reynolds, a music producer, according
to Smooth Radio.
After the birth of her second child, Roisin, O'Connor and her ex, journalist John Waters,
entered into a custody battle in 1995.
The Daily Mail explains that her third child, Shane, whom she shared 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 in since-deleted tweets that her son Shane had gone missing
and was asking for his safe return.
She stated that her "world would collapse" without him.
"Earlier, the 55-year-old singer had appealed to her son on social media not to harm himself."
The Guardian reported 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.
According to the New York Post, the teen had escaped suicide watch shortly before going
missing.
The Daily Mail reported that Sinead later revealed that he took his own life by hanging.
She tweeted,
"I have now formally identified the remains of my son, Shane."
She also tweeted a tribute to Shane, writing,
"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."
In a series of tweets posted later in the month, Sinead claimed that her son had planned
his suicide in advance.
She said that the Irish Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, which discharged him
at the time, was aware of such plans.
She wrote,
"A month ago Shane was brought to CAMHS after vanishing leaving suicide notes including
detailed funeral plans.
They discharged him.
Said he had no plans.
When objections were raised by the adult with him she was told 'planning a funeral is no
different to planning a wedding.'
[...] I'm here to tell CAMHS that planning my child's funeral is nothing remotely similar
to planning his wedding.
Which will now never happen."
According to the Irish Examiner, Shane ended up in Tallaght Hospital, though it's unclear
whether he was there voluntarily or not.
Child and family agency Tusla, his legal guardian at the time, was alerted.
Ireland's national police service was also contacted after, but he was ultimately found
dead.
Sinead blamed Tusla, the CAMHS, and Tallaght Hospital for their purported negligence.
According to The Scottish Sun, she threatened a lawsuit against the latter, saying she didn't
understand how a "traumatized young person" like her son could have gone missing.
She added that the hospital was "refusing to take any responsibility."
Like his mother, Shane had a way with words.
The Sun reported that Sinead shared one of her son's works — which she noted is in
6/8 time — in 2021, which included the lyrics,
"Would you swap places with a man out of tune if the birds of December became the birds
of June?"
In tribute to her son in the wake of his death, Sinead shared a link to Bob Marley's song
"Ride Natty Ride," which speaks of overcoming adversity.
Tragically, Shane's mother also died, 18 months after his death, at the age of 56.
If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide
Prevention Lifeline​ at​ 988​.