Sinéad O’Connor’s exact cause of death confirmed after one year

Sinéad O’Connor’s exact cause of death has been confirmed one year after she died at the age of 56.

It was originally reported that the Irish singer died of ‘natural causes’.

A spokesperson for the Southwark Coroner’s Court said in January: ‘This is to confirm that Ms O’Connor died of natural causes.

‘The coroner has therefore ceased their involvement in her death.’

It has now been stated on O’Connor’s death certificate that she died from ‘an exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and bronchial asthma together’.

As explained by the NHS, COPD is the name for a group of lung conditions that cause breathing difficulties.

Additionally, the Nothing Compares 2 U hitmaker had been suffering from a ‘lower-grade respiratory tract infection’.

O’Connor’s death was formally registered by her ex-husband, John Reynolds, on Wednesday (July 24) in Lambeth, London.

Her death was certified by Julian Morris, a senior coroner for Inner South London, after a post-mortem examination without an inquest.

Last July, we witnessed an outpouring of grief from fans and celebrities as millions mourned the loss of O’Connor, who was found unresponsive at her home in Herne Hill.

Just over 12 months later, A-listers and music lovers alike continue to feel the impact of her loss, with actress Jamie Lee Curtis among public figures honouring her on the first anniversary.

What’s more, director Kathryn Ferguson, who created the 2022 film Nothing Compares about O’Connor’s rise to fame, marked the date in a special way.

Writing that she thinks about O’Connor ‘every day’, Ferguson added that Nothing Compares will be available to watch worldwide for free over the next seven days.

Sadly, O’Connor’s death came 18 months after her son, Shane, took his own life at 17.

The beloved vocalist shared the teenager with musician Dónal Lunny. She also had three other children: Jake, Roisin, and Yeshua.

O’Connor – who was also known as Shuhada Sadaqat – was buried as a Muslim in a Catholic cemetery last summer.

Her funeral was held on August 8 last year, with almost 5,000 mourners lining the streets to remember her.

U2 star Bono and Bob Geldof attended the service, where a eulogy remembered her as ‘a beloved daughter of Ireland’ with ‘a poet’s heart’ whose ‘voice moved a generation of young people’.

The Grammy award-winning star was catapulted to stardom when she released her version of Prince’s Nothing Compares 2 U.

She released her first album, The Lion And The Cobra, in 1987, before her second, I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got, landed in 1990 and contained the hit that went on to achieve worldwide success.

A little-known ballad at the time, O’Connor sent Nothing Compares 2 U to number one in the charts, where it remained for weeks.

O’Connor went on to enjoy a successful decades-long career and released 10 solo albums.

Her latest body of work was 2014’s I’m Not Bossy, I’m The Boss.

The Dublin-born songwriter was also known for being outspoken on her struggles with her mental health and was said to have helped change Ireland because of her criticism of the Catholic Church.

Following her death, her music management company, 67 Management, said she had been finishing a new album, reviewing tour dates for next year, and was also considering ‘opportunities’ around a film of her book.

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