Coroner rules Sinead O’Connor died of 'natural causes'

Irish musician Sinead O’Connor “died of natural causes” last year, a coroner has said.

In July, the Dublin-born singer was found unresponsive at her south London home and pronounced dead at the age of 56.

A statement from Southwark Coroner’s Court on Tuesday said: “This is to confirm that Ms O’Connor died of natural causes.

“The coroner has therefore ceased their involvement in her death.”

According to the Ministry of Justice, death by natural causes is when an illness or condition is not linked to external forces and there are no “unusual circumstances”.

After a post-mortem examination, a coroner can decide whether there are grounds for a natural death inquest, which can happen in a case of neglect or if the person was in police custody or prison at the time of death.

A private funeral, attended by U2’s Bono, Bob Geldof and Irish President Michael D Higgins, was held in August.

A procession then passed O’Connor’s former home in Bray, Co Wicklow, where thousands of fans lined the streets.

O’Connor’s version of Nothing Compares 2 U spent weeks at number one in the UK in 1990 and propelled her to stardom.

She was also known for being outspoken on her struggles with her mental health and was said to have helped change Ireland because of her criticism of the Catholic Church.

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