Last photo of Sinead O’Connor’s son Shane shows teen, 17, day before he died as singer remembers ‘light of my life’
THIS is the heart-breaking final photo of Sinead O’Connor’s son - captured one day before he died.
The picture of 17-year-old Shane O'connor was shared as part of a missing person appeal after the teen disappeared from Tallaght Hospital in Dublin on Thursday.
Police had previously issued an appeal for the missing teen, alongside the picture.
He is seen in the CCTV image wearing dark jeans, a black hoodie with a colourful symbol on the front, a dark red top and white trainers.
But a spokesperson for the Irish force today confirmed the search had been "stood down" following the discovery of a body.
A spokesperson said: "Following the recovery of a body in the Bray area of Wicklow on Friday, 7th January 2022, a Missing Person Appeal in respect of Shane O'Connor, 17 years, has been stood down."
Mum-of-four Sinead confirmed Shane's tragic passing earlier today, paying tribute to him on social media.
She 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.
"May he rest in peace and may no one follow his example. My baby. I love you so much. Please be at peace:"
The 55-year-old later tweeted a Bob Marley song which she dedicated to Shane: "This is for my Shaney. The light of my life. The lamp of my soul. My blue-eye baby.
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"You will always be my light. We will always be together. No boundary can separate us."
Following Shane's disappearance from the Dublin hospital, where his mum claimed he was on "suicide watch", the singer made a desperate plea for his return.
She said: “Shane, your life is precious. God didn’t chisel that beautiful smile on your beautiful face for nothing.
"My world would collapse without you. You are my heart. Please don’t stop it from beating. Please don’t harm yourself. Go to the Gardai and let’s get you to hospital.
"This is a message for my son, Shane. Shane, it’s not funny anymore all this going missing. You are scaring the crap out of me.
“Could you please do the right thing and present yourself at a Gardai station. If you are with Shane please call the Gardai for his safety".
She also threatened the hospital with legal action if anything indicates that they may have been able to prevent his tragic death, writing: "How has a seventeen year old traumatised young person, who was on suicide watch, in Tallaght Hospital’s Lynn Ward been able to go missing???
“Hospital of course so far refusing to take any responsibility. Anything happens to my son on their watch? Lawsuits.”
In a statement the hospital said: "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."
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A spokesperson for Sinead O'Connor said: "Regrettably, we can confirm the passing of Shane O'Connor.
"We politely ask for respect and appreciation for Sinead, Shane's father and Shane's family at this most difficult time."
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 116123.