Loose Women star Coleen Nolan has paid tribute to late Irish singer Sinéad O’Connor, as she pleaded “should have always been nice” whilst addressing the controversy and media attention surrounding the musician

Coleen Nolan paid a touching tribute to late singer Sinéad O’Connor on Loose Women as she addressed viewers on the programme.

Nothing Compares 2 U singer Sinéad O’Connor, 56, was found unresponsive on Wednesday morning at her flat in south London and was later pronounced dead at the address.

Speaking to her Loose Women panellists and viewers at home, Coleen said: “She was around at a time when people were afraid to speak out about things that were going on and she was never afraid to speak out. And I didn’t realise sadly, obviously I was a fan. I loved that, you know, her record that she had over here that was such a massive hit everywhere and I thought it was beautiful.

Coleen Nolan spoke out in tribute to late singer Sinéad O’Connor ( 
Image:
ITV)
“But I never realised what a tragic life she had until this news came out that she passed away and I read about her childhood and it was very, very, very traumatic. But the thing that saddens me the most when I see this is it was quite obvious through the years to me that Sinead was suffering with mental health and she was she was open about that, I think at the time.”

Coleen continued: “And whenever this happens when somebody dies that’s been in the public eye, all these tributes pour out all these obituaries and tributes and how she was amazing and how she was wonderful. Which is kind of what we’re doing now. Except I never knew her personally. But I always think where were all these people?

Sinéad O’Connor died aged 56, with her death being announced on Wednesday 26 July ( 
Image:
Getty Images)
“When they saw the trauma she must have been going through – I’m obviously not her family – but friends that have come out and said we were really close friends and all of that and I think I remember reading terrible things about her like ‘oh, she’s lost her way’, ‘oh, look how much weight she’s put on’, ‘oh, she’s not you know’ ‘why’s she doing this?’. Why is she doing that? Why is she speaking nonsense’ everyone doing that. Then it takes one to die for people to come out and be nice. It really upsets me more than anything. We should have always been nice.”

Today (27 July) it was confirmed by police that Sinéad O’Connor was found ‘unresponsive’ at her home. Police were called to Sinead’s home in Lambeth, south east London on Wednesday morning following a report of an unresponsive woman at the home, however Sinead was pronounced dead at the scene. Her death is not being treated as suspicious.

Tributes for the Nothing Compares 2 U singer have flooded inThe full statement read: “Police were called at 11:18hrs on Wednesday, 26 July to reports of an unresponsive woman at a residential address in the SE24 area. Officers attended. A 56-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Next of kin have been notified. The death is not being treated as suspicious. A file will be prepared for the Coroner.”

News of her death was reported initially by The Irish Times and has since been confirmed by her family who released a statement to RTE that read: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinéad. Her family and friends are devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time.”