Sinead O'Connor dead: Irish music legend dies aged 56 after years of mental health battles - and 18 months after her 17-year-old son Shane also passed away

Sinead O'Connor has died at the age of 56 after years of mental health battles, it was reported last night.

The Irish singer shot to stardom across the world in 1990 by her heartrending cover of Prince's Nothing Compares 2 U.

It comes a year after the mother-of-four's son Shane, 17, took his own life in January 2022 after escaping hospital while on suicide watch.

At the time of her death, the musician, who changed her name to Shuhada' Sadaqat in 2018 when she converted to Islam, was thought to be spending her time between Co Roscommon, Ireland, and London.

In her last Tweet, O'Connor posted a photo of Shane and said: 'Been living as undead night creature since. He was the love of my life, the lamp of my soul. 

Irish music legend Sinead O'Connor has died at the age of 56, it was reported last night

The Irish singer shot to stardom across the world in 1990 by her heartrending cover of Prince's Nothing Compares 2 U

At the time of her death, the musician, who changed her name to Shuhada' Sadaqat in 2018 when she converted to Islam, was thought to be spending her time between Co Roscommon, Ireland, and London

After signing with Ensign Records she released her first album, I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got in 1990, which sold more than seven million copies

The album also included her breakthrough hit Nothing Compares 2 U, a cover of one of Prince's songs

'We were one soul in two halves. He was the only person who ever loved me unconditionally. 

'I am lost in the bardo without him.'

Tributes have been pouring in for the adored singer after her death was announced.

Comedian Dara O'Briain was one of the first to Tweet about O'Connor, saying: 'Ah s****, Sinead O’Connor has died. That’s just very sad news. Poor thing. I hope she realised how much love there was for her.'

O'Connor was born into a troubled family in Dublin on December 8, 1966.

Later in her life she claimed she started having mental health issues because her mother physically and sexually abused her as a child.

She was placed in corrective school aged 15 after bouts of stealing. An Grianán Training Centre, in Dublin was previously a notorious Magdalene laundry for 'fallen women'.

The singer was known to have had years of mental health battles before her death was reported last night

It comes a year after the mother-of-four's son Shane, 17, took his own life in January 2022 after escaping hospital while on suicide watch

In her last Tweet, O'Connor posted a photo of Shane and said: 'Been living as undead night creature since. He was the love of my life, the lamp of my soul'

She added: 'We were one soul in two halves. He was the only person who ever loved me unconditionally'

In the years after her breakthrough she wrote other hits including You Made Me The Thief Of Your Heart - for the soundtrack of Daniel Day-Lewis film In the Name of the Father - Drink Before The War and This Is The Day

Comedian Dara O'Briain was one of the first to Tweet about O'Connor, saying: 'Ah s****, Sinead O’Connor has died. That’s just very sad news. Poor thing. I hope she realised how much love there was for her'

Although O'Connor said it was no longer an abusive place, she said being kept away from her family was upsetting.

However, one of the nuns there spotted her musical talent and bought her a guitar and pushed her to have lessons. 

Through an advert in a Dublin music magazine she met Colm Farrelly and together formed the band Ton Ton Macoute, which brough O'Connor to the attention of the global music industry.

After signing with Ensign Records she released her first album, I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got in 1990, which sold more than seven million copies and included her breakthrough hit Nothing Compares 2 U.

In the years after her breakthrough she wrote other hits including You Made Me The Thief Of Your Heart - for the soundtrack of Daniel Day-Lewis film In the Name of the Father - Drink Before The War and This Is The Day.

She released 10 studio albums in her career, and Nothing Compares 2 U was named the number one world single in 1990 by the Billboard Music Awards.

O'Connor is survived by her three children.