Sinead O’Connor: Inside music legend’s turbulent relationship history as star tragically dies aged just 56
SINEAD O’Connor had a turbulent relationship history before she died today aged just 56.
The Irish singer found worldwide fame with her ballad Nothing Compares 2 U in 1990 – one of the standout songs of the decade.
In a statement, the singer’s family said: “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.”
Sinead’s first husband was music producer John Reynolds, whom she married in 1987.
She later fought a long custody battle with Irish writer John Waters after the birth of her daughter Roisin in 1995.
The drawn-out feud ended when Sinead let Roisin live in Dublin with Waters.
O’Connor married journalist Nick Sommerlad in 2001, before their relationship ended in 2004.
She had her third child Shane with artist Donal Lummy in 2004, and her fourth child Yeshua with Frank Bonadio in 2006.
Sinead married her close friend Steve Cooney in 2010, before they separated a year later.
Her final marriage to therapist Barry Herridge ended after they “lived together for 7 days only”.
O’Connor said in 2003 that she had also had three relationship with women.
In January last year the star announced the death of her 17-year-old Shane – and vowed never to sing again.
Sinead said that Shane had “decided to end his earthly struggle today and is now with God”.
She later added: “Just to say, suggestions there’ll be any performances this year or next year or ever again are erroneous.”
“There will never be anything to sing about again.”
Sinead held a Hindu funeral for Shane, placing a pack of cigarettes in his coffin.
She said: “We just said goodbye to our beautiful angel, Shaney.
“Very lovely Hindu ceremony. Shane will have loved it. He was always chanting ‘Om. Shanti’.
“I put a few packs of fags in the coffin for him in case there’s none in heaven. He’ll have loved that too. Om. Shanti.”
The final snaps of Sinead were taken at the RTÉ Choice Music Prize in Dublin this March, where she won the Classic Irish Album award.
In the heartbreaking pics, O’Connor can be seen beaming, laughing and waving to fans.
In a Twitter post on June 6 this year, Sinéad quoted a Hawaiian prayer.
It ran: “This is dedicated to the many upon whom I have in my life so far brought suffering and is also, with love, for anyone who has in their lives so far brought suffering upon me.”
Shared on June 7 2016, O’Connor’s last Instagram post was a black-and-white picture of herself smiling.
In the heartbreaking snap, the singer is dressed simply in a black t-shirt against a plain background.
The post’s caption read: “Love the life you have and be grateful for what you are.”
The star’s fourth child, 17-year-old Shane O’Connor, passed away in January last year after he went missing from Tallaght Hospital following years of struggling with mental health issues.
Sinéad was born in Glenageary, County Dublin on December 8, 1966, and was one of five children raised Roman Catholic.
Her troubled teenage years, involving shoplifting and truancy, saw her placed in the Magdalene asylums for 18 months.
There she began to discover her love of singing and in 1984 she met Colm Farrelly, with whom she formed a band called Ton Ton Macoute.