Sinéad O’Connor death: Singer moved to London ‘to feel less lonely’, neighbours say

Dozens of people have gathered at the Wall of Fame in Dublin’s Temple Bar to pay tribute to Sinead O’Connor. The Dublin-born musician died on Wednesday aged 56, after being found “unresponsive” in “a residential address” in the Lambeth area of London. Fans gathered to pay their respects and in a poignant moment sang two of her hits, Black Boys On Mopeds and Nothing Compares 2 U. Tributes continue to pour in for the star from across the world.

Earlier this month, Sinead O’Connor reportedly moved into a penthouse in south London, however, her neigbhbours had no idea who the singer was.

According to The Times, the late singer’s Herne Hill apartment neighbours realised just who their new neighbour had been after the announcement of her death.

The outlet also revealed that O’Connor told her neighbours she had moved back to the capital city to feel less lonely.

One of O’Connor’s neigbours, Pushpakumara Moragamana, said that the singer would “regularly smoke cigarettes outside the building and spoke about religion, mental health and her son’s death.

The neighbour also said he once had an emotional conversation in which O’Connor cried about how she felt “devastated and depressed” after the loss of her son.

Moragamana and O’Conner reportedly also spoke about the singer’s religion.

The neighbour revealed that the singer would “speak proudly” about the Muslim religion and her reasons for converting. “She was very passionate talking about it,” he added.

Pink and Brandi Carlile performed a beautiful tribute to the Irish singer during their Wednesday (26 July) night concert in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The two singers belted a powerful rendition of O’Connor’s famous “Nothing Compares 2 U” track.

No medical cause was given in the death of Sinead O’Connor and an autopsy will be carried out, London Inner South Coroner’s Court said on Thursday (27 July).

The result of the autopsy may not be available for several weeks, according to a statement on the court website.

Accompanying the post, the 58-year-old broadcaster included a photo of the two standing together in the ITV studio.

“Knew her for 35 years & we had some ferocious spats but also some great Guinness-fuelled make-ups. She was a unique character. Sad day,” the broadcaster, 58, tweeted.

To the delight of many O’Connor fans, one such spat has resurfaced across social media.

Broadcaster had apparently invited the late singer to appear on ITV’s ‘Good Morning Britain’

Sinead O’Connor had been “completing her new album”, reviewing tour dates for next year and was also considering “opportunities” around a movie of her book, her management company has said.

“Wonderful plans were afoot at this time,” they added of the Grammy-winning singer and songwriter who was found “unresponsive” by police at a residential address in south London on Wednesday (26 July).

Grammy-winning Irish singer died on 26 July, aged 56

Thirty years ago, a young Sinéad O’Connor shocked America with her political protest on ‘Saturday Night Live’. She was promptly banned for life by broadcaster NBC, pelted with eggs in the street and booed during live shows. Ed Power reflects on the impact of that night and the contrasting reactions in the US and Ireland

In October, the documentary Nothing Compares was released in cinemas. The title is derived from O’Connor’s 1990 cover of the Prince-written ballad, “Nothing Compares 2 U”, which was an international hit and topped the charts in several countries, including Ireland, the UK and the US.

Here’s how to watch it:

Directed by Kathryn Ferguson, ‘Nothing Compares’ was originally released in cinemas last year