The 'Nothing Compares 2 U' singer was found dead on July 26, after years of suffering mental health issues and and 18 months after her son Shane took his own life in January 2022.
- Jul 28, 2023
AceShowbiz - Sinead O'Connor's neighbors say she was "happy and smiling" in the days before her death. The "Nothing Compares 2 U" singer was found dead on Wednesday, July 26, after years of suffering mental health issues and 18 months after the mum-of-four's son Shane, 17, took his life in January 2022 after escaping hospital while on suicide watch in his tribute.
In the weeks before her death she had moved to a humble flat in south-east London to finish working on her latest record, and local Farath Moragammanage told MailOnline about their world-famous neighbor, "I last saw her about two weeks ago. She seemed happy and was smiling and waved. She was with a friend and she said she was going to Brixton with a friend from Ireland. She told me she was a famous singer and she must have moved in about weeks six weeks or so ago. She was living there on her own. Around 5pm on Wednesday I saw a private ambulance turn up and it was there for a few hours before leaving. I didn't make the connection until I saw the news and realised it was my neighbour. It's so sad. I feel so sorry for her."
Another neighbour told MailOnline, "I would often see her on the street smoking a cigarette and we would exchange a few words every now and then." Clyre Day, 71, said, "I used to see her looking over the balcony and I remember she used to keep her lights and windows open all night. She would talk to the locals and people knew who she was but I don't think she had lived here very long. I saw all the police outside on Wednesday, there must have been about six of them. It's very sad. I wouldn't say I was a fan but I loved that one song that made her famous."
The new build block where Sinead lives is a converted 1940s warehouse just a few minutes walk from Brixton. Police said on Thursday, July 27, they are not treating Sinead's death as suspicious.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said in a statement, "Police were called at 11.18hrs on Wednesday, 26 July to reports of an unresponsive woman at a residential address in the SE24 area. Officers attended. A 56-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Next of kin have been notified. The death is not being treated as suspicious. A file will be prepared for the Coroner."
