Sinéad O’Connor has died aged 56

In a statement, the singer’s family said: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinéad. Her family and friends are devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time.”

Sinéad O'Connor changed her name to Shuhada' Sadaqat in 2018 when she converted to Islam. The Dublin-born singer shot to fame in 1990 following cover of Prince's "Nothing Compares 2 U", which went straight to number one.

She released ten studio albums, including her debut, The Lion and the Cobra, which was released in 1987 and her second album, I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got, which won a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Performance.

Her son tragically passed away, last year, at the age of 17 after escaping from a suicide watch facility. Announcing his death, she wrote: “the very light of my life, decided to end his earthly struggle today and is now with God”. In one of her final tweets, 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."

In 2021, following the announcement that she was retiring from music to focus on a writing career, O’Connor released a memoir, Rememberings, while last year a film on her life was directed by Kathryn Ferguson.

O'Connor was presented with the inaugural award for Classic Irish Album at the RTÉ Choice Music Awards earlier this year. She received a standing ovation as she dedicated the award, for I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got, to “each and every member of Ireland’s refugee community”.