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How did Shane O’Connor die? Popstar Sinead's son, 17, found dead after he disappeared

Shane went missing on January 6, 2022, from Tallaght Hospital in Dublin, where he was admitted due to concerns over his mental health

Popstar Sinead O’Connor's troubled teenage son, Shane O’Connor, has died by suicide. He had gone missing earlier this week. O'Connor's management company confirmed the 17-year-old's death. "Regrettably, we can confirm that Sinead’s son Shane has indeed passed. We would politely ask that the utmost respect and compassion be observed at this most difficult time for Sinead and family," 67 Management said in a statement.

Police confirmed the boy's death. A spokesperson said in a statement, “Following the recovery of a body in the Bray area of Wicklow on Friday, 7th January 2022, a Missing Person Appeal in respect of Shane O’Connor, 17 years, has been stood down." Shane's exact cause of death has not been revealed.

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Reportedly, Shane had been on suicide watch at a hospital in Dublin. In a series of tweets, O'Connor announced the death of her son on her personal Twitter feed. "My beautiful son, Nevi’im Nesta Ali Shane O’Connor, the very light of my life, decided to end his earthly struggle today and is now with God. May he rest in peace and may no one follow his example. My baby. I love you so much. Please be at peace:," she wrote. 

In a separate tweet, O’Connor slammed Tusla, Ireland’s child and family agency, for failing to get in touch with her following the tragedy. "26 hours after my son died in the so called care of the Irish State in the form of Tusla, I have yet to receive any contact from Tusla or their representatives. I was informed by Gardai of my son’s death and later I spoke with the GAL. No contact from Tusla is unacceptable," she wrote. In another tweet, she wrote, "My lawyer received this from Tusla’s lawyer. Can tusla pls finally note my child is not named “the remains”. His name is Shane “Yes, I’m instructed that your client has been advised that the identification of the remains will take place this afternoon”.

When Shane went missing on January 6, 2022, from Tallaght Hospital in Dublin, O'Connor accused the hospital of letting the teen "out of their grasp" while he was on suicide watch. Shane had been placed on suicide watch due to concerns over his mental heath. He had attempted to kill himself on earlier occasions too. "Like, how has a seventeen year old traumatised young person WHO WAS ON SUICIDE WATCH in Tallaght Hosptial’s Lynn Ward been able to go missing??? Hospital of course so far refusing to take any responsibility. Anything happens to my son on their watch? Lawsuits," she write in one tweet. In another, she wrote, "I want to know why Lynn Ward at Taillight hospital who were supposed to have HCA’s supervise my child 24/7 have managed to let him out of their grasp this morning when 7 days ago he made two severe suicide attempts."

O'Connor has been married four times and is a mother to four children. The 'Nobody Compares 2 U' hitmaker shares her eldest son, 34-year-old Jake Reynolds, with music producer John Reynolds. She welcomed her second child, 25-year-daughter Roisin, with journalist John Waters. The popstar shares her third child, deceased Shane,  with Irish folk musician Dónal Lunny. The couple separated shortly after Shane was born. Shane, who was recently seen accompanying his mother for her Covid-19 vaccination, was described in his missing person report as “5 ft 6 inches, with short brown hair and blue eyes.” Her fourth child is her 15-year-old son Yeshua Francis Neil Bonadio, whom she shares with American businessman Frank Bonadio. The pair called it quits in 2017, a year after Yeshua was born. 

In a couple of tweets after Shane went missing, O'Connor requested his son to "do the right thing" and come back. "This is a message for my son, Shane. Shane, it’s not funny any more all this going missing. You are scaring the crap out of me. Could you please do the right thing and present yourself at a Gardai station. If you are with Shane please call the Gardai for his safety," she had written in one Tweet. "Shane, your life is precious. God didn’t chisel that beautiful smile on your beautiful face for nothing. My world would collapse without you. You are my heart. Please don’t stop it from beating. Please don’t harm yourself. Go to the Gardai and let’s get you to hospital," she wrote in another.

Shane had gone missing back in 2019 too. Back then, O' Connor had tweeted, "My sweet 14-year-old son has been going missing a lot and is currently missing for the last two days. If you are a parent in whose house he has been staying or is staying, please call Dundrum Gardai." However, just a few hours after the appeal, Sinead posted another tweet saying her son was found "safe and well".