Cause of Sinead O'Connor's death revealed 1 year after singer's passing: reports

(NEXSTAR) – One year after her passing at the age of 56, Irish singer-songwriter Sinead O’Connor’s cause of death has been detailed in a death certificate registered by her ex-husband, according to reports.

O’Connor was found dead at a home in London on July 26, 2023. Authorities in London did not consider her death to be suspicious, and a coroner’s report later revealed that O’Connor had died of natural causes.

A death certificate registered last week in London, however, provided a more detailed cause of death, the Irish Independent first reported. Specifically, O’Connor died of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) coupled with bronchial asthma “together with low grade lower respiratory tract infection,” according to copies of the death certificate viewed by the Irish Independent and The New York Times.

COPD, a disease that affects the flow of air to the lungs, is most often caused by smoking, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains. Symptoms include coughing, shortness of breath and excess phlegm, among others.

COPD can become progressively worse with time and can contribute to other illnesses including heart disease or lung cancer, the Mayo Clinic adds.

O’Connor rose to international fame in the early 1990s following the release of her sophomore album “I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got,” which featured a cover of “Nothing Compares 2 U,” a song originally written by Prince. In 1992, she became a controversial figure after she tore up a photo of Pope John Paul II during a performance on “Saturday Night Live.” She later explained that she chose to rip up the picture to make a statement about child abuse within the Catholic Church.

“I am trying to fight child abuse, which I believe to be proof of the existence of evil in the world,” O’Connor told Entertainment Tonight just weeks after her “SNL” appearances.

O’Connor’s funeral, in August 2023, was attended by the Irish president, prime minister, and recording artists including Bob Geldof and Bono. Fans also filled the streets of her hometown during a procession.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.