Posted by Sinéad O’Connor gives her thanks to tragic Shane’s father
10th January 2022
Singer Sinéad O’Connor has thanked her son’s father and Guardian ad Litem for doing their best for him prior to his death, adding that she ‘doesn’t know how’ she’s going to live without him.
Shane O’Connor, 17, died after going missing on Thursday last week. He was found between Shankill in south Dublin and his hometown of Bray, Co. Wicklow.
Over the weekend, Ms O’Connor confirmed Shane’s death. Writing on Twitter on Sunday, the musician said: ‘Shaney, babba, stick with me. Wherever you may also be, please stick with me. I don’t know how I’m going to live without you.
Shane’s father is folk musician Dónal Lunny, 74, who is best known for playing with the groups Planxty, The Bothy Band and Moving Hearts. The couple split shortly after Shane was born in 2004.
Addressing Mr Lunny, Ms O’Connor, 55, said: ‘I’d like to thank Shane’s father, Dónal Lunny. You did your best too, Dónal. And Shane adored you. And I will always remember how sweet you have been to him. You have been a lovely father. I am so sorry for your loss.’
The Nothing Compares 2 U singer has three other children from other relationships, including Jake, 33, whose father is Ms O’Connor’s ex-husband John Reynolds; Róisín, 25, whose father is journalist John Waters; and Yeshua, 15, whose father is American businessman Frank Bonadio.
Shane had been in the care of Tusla, the Child and Family Agency and had been receiving care in Tallaght University Hospital (TUH) when he went missing. On Sunday, Ms O’Connor thanked Colin Hall, who served as Shane’s GAL (Guardian ad Litem). She said Mr Hall was ‘adored by Shane and me’.
‘You did your best Colin, thank you,’ she said. Numerous celebrities have offered their condolences to Ms O’Connor, including TV presenter Muireann O’Connell, who tweeted that she was ‘so terribly sorry’ for the singer’s ‘tragic loss. My thoughts are with you and your family.’
Pogues singer Shane MacGowan, a lifelong friend of Ms O’Connor, called the deceased a ‘beautiful boy’ who was very much loved. MacGowan’s partner Victoria Mary Clarke added that she was ‘so, so, so sorry’. Former Pogues member Cáit O’Riordan tweeted: ‘I’m so sorry Sinéad.’
RTÉ’s new Today Show presenter Emer O’Neill said: ‘I am sorry for your loss Sinéad. I was his [Shane’s] teacher here in Bray. I loved that boy. Thinking of the family.’ Actress Angeline Ball, known for her roles in The Commitments and Hidden Assets, wrote on Twitter: ‘So terribly sorry to hear about your loss.’ Singer Imelda May paid tribute, saying Shane was a ‘beautiful and talented boy’. Businesswoman Norah Casey said: ‘Sending you strength and heartfelt sympathies Sinéad – no words can ease your broken heart – will light candles for your lovely son Shane. May he rest in peace.’
Meanwhile, radio presenter Alison Curtis said: ‘Heart is broken for Sinéad O’Connor and her family.’ TV presenter Anna Daly said she was ‘brokenhearted’ reading Ms O’Connor’s tweets. On Sunday, the singer also revealed that Shane had been brought to the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) a month ago where he was being treated for ‘psychosis’.
Last Thursday, gardaí appealed to the public for help in tracing Shane’s whereabouts. This was not the first time that the teenager had gone missing. On November 29 last year, gardaí issued an appeal after he went missing, but he was found two days later. He also went missing for a day in January 2019. Last week, An Garda Síochána stopped the search on Friday after they recovered Shane’s remains in the Bray area.
Confirming Shane’s death on Twitter on Saturday, Ms O’Connor took aim at officials in Tallaght University Hospital and Tusla. ‘I have now formally identified the remains of my son, Shane. May God forgive the Irish State for I never will,’ she said. She continued: ‘My beautiful son, Nevi’im Nesta Ali Shane O’Connor, the very light of my life, decided to end his earthly struggle today and is now with God. May he rest in peace and may no one follow his example.
‘My baby. I love you so much. Please be at peace.’ Ms O’Connor added that Shane was her ‘blue-eye baby’ and that he will ‘always be my light’. ‘We will always be together. No boundary can separate us. I’m going to take private time now to grieve my son,’ she said.
The HSE said it cannot comment on individual cases when to do so might reveal information in relation to identifiable individuals, breaching the ethical requirement for confidentiality. A spokesman for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency said it would not be commenting.
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