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Sinead O'Connor's son Shane found dead two days after going missing

Sinead O'Connor - Gus Stewart/Redferns
Sinead O'Connor - Gus Stewart/Redferns

Sinead O’Connor has told of her grief after the body of her “beautiful son” was discovered two days after he went missing.

Irish Gardai recovered the body of Shane, aged 17, in the Bray area of Wicklow on Friday. The Irish singer had pleaded with her teenage son to hand himself in to police after he was reported missing on Thursday from Dublin.

The 55-year-old singer posted an emotional tribute on Saturday explaining how he had “decided to end his earthly struggle” and pleaded with others not to “follow his example”.

"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," she wrote on Twitter in the early hours of Saturday morning.

"May he rest in peace and may no one follow his example. My baby. I love you so much. Please be at peace."

Sinead O'Connor
Sinead O'Connor

Representatives of the singer issued a statement saying: “Regrettably, we can confirm the passing of Shane O’Connor.

“We politely ask for respect and appreciation for Sinead, Shane’s father and Shane’s family at this most difficult time.”

Shane O'Connor had been reported missing from Tallaght University Hospital in Dublin on Thursday, where he is believed to have been on suicide watch.

The singer issued pleas for information regarding her son's whereabouts in the hours following his disappearance.

"Shane, your life is precious. God didn’t chisel that beautiful smile on your beautiful face for nothing," she wrote on Thursday. "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 [Irish police] and let’s get you to hospital.

"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."

O'Connor was open about her son's mental health struggles and used social media in previous situations to plead for help when he went missing, including in Jan 2019 when he was 14.

Shane O'Connor
Shane O'Connor

In the wake of Shane's disappearance, O'Connor took to social media to criticise the hospital and question how he was permitted to escape.

"How was a seventeen-year-old traumatised young person WHO WAS ON SUICIDE WATCH in Tallaght Hospital'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? Lawsuit," she wrote on Thursday.

Shane is the son of Ms O’Connor and Donal Lunny, an Irish folk musician and producer. The couple split up shortly before Shane was born.

Shane MacGowan, the Pogues singer, also used social media to describe the singer’s on as “a beautiful boy”.

“Sinead you have always been there for me and for so many people, you have been a comfort & a soul who is not afraid to feel the pain of the suffering,” he wrote.

“You have always tried to heal & help. I pray that you can be comforted & find strength, healing & peace in your own sorrow & loss.

“He was a beautiful boy and I loved him. I pray that he can be at peace and also be able to stay connected with you. Love Shane.”

For confidential support, Samaritans can be contacted for free at any time on 116 123. The Papyrus suicide support line is available to under-35s on 0800 068 4141 between 9am and midnight.