Sinéad O’Connor’s exact cause of death revealed

One year on since the singer’s sudden death, it has been revealed that the 56-year-old mother of four died from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. In addition, the Nothing Compares 2 U singer had been suffering from a lung infection.

Ms O’Connor’s death was formally registered by her ex-husband John Reynolds last week in Lambeth, south London.

The certificate gives the cause of death as "exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bronchial asthma together with low grade lower respiratory tract infection".

According to the HSE, COPD occurs when the airways become inflamed, damaged and narrowed. The main cause is smoking or passive smoking, but it can sometimes affect people who have never smoked.

The damage to the lungs caused by COPD is permanent, but treatment can help slow the progression of the condition.

Ms O’Connor’s cause of death was certified by the senior coroner for Inner South London, Julian Morris, on July 24.

On July 26 last year, the musician was found unresponsive at her home at Herne Hill, south London, and was later pronounced dead. Earlier this year the coroner confirmed she died of natural causes.

It comes just a few days after a waxwork representation of Sinéad O’Connor was removed from display at the National Wax Museum after a major backlash.

The waxwork was officially unveiled on Thursday – just one day before the first anniversary of Ms O’Connor’s death.

However, the lack of resemblance to the star enraged many of her fans, as well as Ms O’Connor’s brother, John.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Liveline, he branded it "inappropriate" that the National Wax Museum "put something as hideous up in any sense of honour". Paddy Dunning, owner of the National Wax Museum, later confirmed the waxwork by artists PJ Heraghty and Mel Creek would be removed.

He explained he only got the chance to look at the waxwork not long before the launch. "I know Sinéad," he said.

"I’ve known her 40 years, and my heart sank a bit [when he saw the statue]. There was a whole load of people in the room. We went ahead with the launch."

Mr Dunning issued an apology before explaining the waxwork would be redone to better represent Ms O’Connor, saying: "It was supposed to be a celebration – there was a big mistake here."

Ms O’Connor is survived by her three children and was predeceased by her son Shane, who died by suicide in 2022, aged 17.

The legendary singer released ten studio albums over the course of her career and received widespread acclaim for her best-selling memoir in 2021.

She rose to fame in 1990 with her mega hit Nothing Compares 2 U, but sparked a worldwide media storm after ripping up a picture of Pope John Paul II on US chat show "Saturday Night Live" in protest at child sex abuse in the Catholic Church.

She last appeared on "The Late Late Show" three years ago when her performance of "Nothing Compares 2 U" went viral, clocking up more than five million views on YouTube worldwide.