Sinead O’Connor calls out ‘evil’ Irish state and hospital after teenage son’s death

Kieran Galpin

In response, the HSE essentially said they couldn’t comment

Sinead O’Connor has called out the Irish state after announcing the death of her 17-year-old son, Shane.

The singer told the world of her son’s passing on Twitter. Posting the news on January 8, O’Connor wrote: “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.

https://twitter.com/OhSineady/status/1479606963973632003

“May he rest in peace and may no one follow his example. My baby. I love you so much. Please be at peace.”

Shane had been reported missing two days prior to his death, and his mother had previously revealed he was on “suicide watch” at Tallaght Hospital in Dublin.

Later on January 8, the artist took to Twitter once more to slam the Irish Health Service, family agency Tulsa, and the Irish State altogether.

https://twitter.com/OhSineady/status/1479635810546819078

She wrote: “26 hours after my son died in the so called care of the Irish State in the form of Tusla, I have yet to receive any contact from Tusla or their representatives. I was informed by Gardai of my son’s death and later I spoke with the GAL. No contact from Tusla is unacceptable.”

The second tweet reads: “I have now formally identified the remains of my son, Shane. May God forgive the Irish State for I never will.”

She later added: “Now tusla want to discuss with me ’a media release’ no doubt wishing to have me join in their efforts to make this death of my child seem like it wasn’t at the hands of the Irish State.”

https://twitter.com/OhSineady/status/1479886839263764484?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1479886839263764484%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fd-24484875923360133148.ampproject.net%2F2111242025001%2Fframe.html

She then revealed that the HSE would release a “dishonest ass covering statement” following international coverage.

She concluded: “And any statement out of Tusla suggesting they a) did their best b) care or c) have deepest sympathies for anyone here but their lawyers, is a load of crap trap that has killed too many kids and it isn’t going to wash this time.

https://twitter.com/OhSineady/status/1479898656170029066?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1479898656170029066%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fd-24484875923360133148.ampproject.net%2F2111242025001%2Fframe.html

“Too many kids are dying on Tusla’s watch.”

In response, an HSE spokesperson told the Independent that: “The HSE cannot comment on individual cases when to do so might reveal information in relation to identifiable individuals, breaching the ethical requirement on us to observe our duty of confidentiality.”