BREAKING: Beloved Irish singer Sinéad O'Connor dies aged 56

Irish singer Sinéad O'Connor (also known as Shuhada Sadaqat) has died at the age of 56. 

O'Connor is known worldwide for popular songs including Nothing Compares 2 U and Mandinka, as well as her activism and strongly held views on organised religion - particularly Catholicism - women's rights and child abuse. 

She was heavily criticised in the 1990s for ripping up a picture of Pope John Paul II on Saturday Night Live in a condemnation of sex abuse scandals within the Catholic Church. 

O'Connor converted to Islam in 2018. 

She leaves behind three children; Jake, Roisin and Yeshua. Her son, Shane, tragically died in 2022. 

Celebrities have begun to pay respects on social media, with comedian Dara O'Briain stating, "That’s just very sad news. Poor thing. I hope she realised how much love there was for her." 

TV and radio personality, Brendan Courtney, said, "I am so deeply saddened to hear that Sinead has died. A human who helped the world see things differently at a personal cost. We owe her a great debt for helping drag Ireland out of a grim past & making it relevant on the world stage."  

Artist Jim Fitzpatrick said, "The amazing Sinéad O'Connor has passed away and I'm so sad for her and all her loved ones. I was so damn lucky to have spent time with her and to have worked with such an extraordinary talented woman. Ar Deis Dé go rabid a anam dilis."