Sinead O'Connor cancels all 2015 shows after son is diagnosed with 'life-threatening illness'

Singer said she is facing the ‘utmost stressful experience of my life’

Sinead O’Connor said she cancelled all of her concerts for the foreseeable future to care for her child, after he was diagnosed with a “life-threatening” illness.

The 'Nothing Compares 2 U' singer said she had been instructed by her son's doctor and her own doctor not to work until he had fully recovered from the unspecified illness in an extensive post on her Facebook page.

“My child has been suffering with a life-threatening medical condition since early March 2015,” she wrote. “It is the type of condition my child will definitely survive, if correct care is taken and is supervised by myself. Otherwise there is no guarantee. That is the plain truth.

“So as an almost 49-year-old sole breadwinner, facing the need to cancel these shows and the South American shows has been the utmost stressful experience of my life, and to be honest I'm very proud of myself for being so strong. Mothers do find strengths they didn't know they had, when they know their children are in danger.”

The mother-of-four said she was also suffering with “chronic gynaecological problems” and may need to have a hysterectomy after these issues reoccurred again despite three operations. O’Connor said these health problems had also contributed to her decision to cancel her upcoming performances.

“It doesn't please me or suit me at all to let people down,” her post went on. “I'm told it will be impossible for me to be employed as a live performer for three years now because I have cancelled the tour.

“So be it. My lovely child is priceless.

“And so therefore am I, because he needs me more than anyone else does."

O’Connor is known for using her Facebook page to share news and her opinions, most recently publishing a furious post claiming “music has officially died” after Rolling Stone magazine put Kim Kardashian on its cover. She also used her page to send three open letters to Miley Cyrus, in which she warned the singer the music industry “will prostitute you for all you are worth”.