(NEXSTAR) – A year after Irish singer-songwriter Sinead O’Connor passed away at the age of 56, her cause of death has been detailed on her death certificate registered by her ex-husband, according to reports.
O’Connor was found dead at her London home on July 26, 2023. London authorities deemed her death not suspicious, and a coroner’s report later stated that O’Connor’s cause of death was Natural causes.
However, a death certificate registered in London last week gives more detailed information about the cause of death, as first reported by the Irish Independent. Specifically, O’Connor died of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchial asthma and a “mild lower respiratory tract infection,” according to a copy of the death certificate seen by the Irish Independent. Irish Independent and The New York Times.
COPD is a disease that affects airflow to the lungs and is most often caused by smoking. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Symptoms may include coughing, shortness of breath, and excess phlegm, according to the CDC.
COPD gradually worsens over time and can lead to other diseases, such as heart disease and lung cancer. Mayo Clinic add.
O’Connor rose to international fame in the early 1990s after the release of her second album, “I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got,” which featured a cover of the Prince-penned “Nothing Compares 2 U.” In 1992, she caused controversy when she tore up a photograph of Pope John Paul II during a performance on “Saturday Night Live.” She later explained that she had done so to make a statement about child abuse within the Catholic Church.
“I’m trying to fight child abuse because I believe it’s evidence that there is evil in the world,” O’Connor said. Tonight’s Entertainment This was just a few weeks after her “SNL” appearance.
O’Connor’s funeral in August 2023 was attended by the Irish president, prime minister, and artists including Bob Geldof and Bono, and fans filled the streets of her hometown during the procession.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
