Cause of Sinéad O’Connor’s Death Revealed

The legendary singer succumbed to respiratory illnesses.

Friday, July 26 marked the one-year anniversary of the passing of singer Sinéad O’Connor. New details on her death have been released. Reporters for The Irish Independent obtained O’Connor’s death certificate, showing that she died from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. Earlier reports had only indicated that O’Connor’s death was due to “natural causes.”

O’Connor passed away at her London home last summer at the age of 56. Her death wasn’t considered suspicious by authorities, but details took time to be publicly released. Coroners now confirm O’Connor had a respiratory tract infection that worsened her pre-existing conditions and led to her death. This news brings relief to friends and fans who had worried about O’Connor’s mental health before she passed away. It also confirms that drugs and alcohol were not factors in her death.

O’Connor had a long, well-documented history of mental health struggles. She was a staunch advocate for mental health care, and she was often praised for sharing her personal experiences in a bid to help others facing similar struggles. In 2007, O’Connor appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show where she revealed a previous suicide attempt.

Following this incident, O’Connor said she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and sought better treatment. She later stated that this diagnosis was incorrect, and she had been more accurately diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, agoraphobia, and complex post-traumatic stress disorder. O’Connor also sought treatment to end her cannabis addiction.

In 2017, O’Connor had a similar conversation with Phil McGraw, discussing several past experiences with suicidal thoughts and the treatments that had helped her. She expressed gratitude to doctors and psychiatrists, including the staff at an inpatient hospital where she stayed intermittently for six years.

Despite facing numerous challenges, O’Connor emerged as a significant political voice in the music industry for decades. She used her career to address social issues such as women’s rights, racism, and child abuse. Perhaps her most infamous moment was in 1992, when she criticized Pope John Paul II and the Catholic Church during a live performance on Saturday Night Live. This act was one of the earliest mainstream critiques of the Church’s systemic role in shielding child abusers.

O’Connor inspired her generation and many artists who followed. This update on her cause of death has prompted fresh reflections on her life and career on social media. O’Connor’s music remains accessible on major streaming platforms, and her memoir, Rememberings, is available in print, digital, and audiobook formats.