Pogues legend Shane MacGowan was “devastated” to miss the funeral of his close friend Sinead O’Connor, his wife has revealed.
Victoria Mary Clarke told how the rocker, whose been in hospital for over three months, regarded fellow musician Sinead “like a sister”.
The pair formed a strong friendship as up and coming artists in London and recorded the acclaimed duet Haunted together in the 1990s.
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Victoria Mary attended the private funeral for iconic singer Sinead in August, but Shane could not leave his hospital bed to bid her a final farewell.
She told the Irish Sunday Mirror: “Shane was in hospital and was devastated he couldn’t be there, because she was like a sister to him.
“She was always incredibly caring... she had a very motherly energy. Some people are very in their heads, but she was very much in her heart.”
Sinead was found dead at her London flat on July 26. She lost her son Shane, 17, to suicide in 2021. No cause of death has yet been released.
Speaking at an angel channelling event Victoria Mary told us: “She was here tonight, I could feel her when we started moving and chanting and shaking around.
“I got a bit of communication with her just to say she was absolutely fine - she was saying ‘don’t worry about me, I’m good, I’m happy, I’m in a good place’.
“The world wasn’t ready to let her go but she is really happy now. I’ve had signs from her.”
She added: “When I got into channelling she was one of the people that I used to channel for, because she was really open to it and her energy was very open. She was open to all kinds of spirituality and exploring religion and spirituality.”
Victoria Mary said she and Shane were heartbroken to hear of Sinead’s passing and not a bit surprised at the public outpouring of grief.
She continued: “We were devastated. It’s sort of a weird thing because you feel like there were times when she was really, really miserable.
“She would say to us ‘why do I have to stay if I have to suffer?’ I think we all feel that sometimes. We don’t really want to suffer. Everybody wanted her to stay and I think she didn’t realise how much she was loved.”
Dirty Ole Town singer Shane has been in hospital since June, having spent several days in intensive care after succumbing to a mystery virus.
He was diagnosed with viral encephalitis - which causes the brain to swell - last year and has had a number of hospital stays since.
Victoria Mary conceded that his partying lifestyle in younger years may have taken its toll, but she is hopeful that he will be discharged from hospital “in a few weeks”. She said: “I think it’s a bit of a long road, but he’s definitely getting a bit stronger.
“I can see it in his eyes that he’s getting stronger. But it’s hard work for him. Because when you challenge your body so much for such a long time, you’re going to feel the effect.
“We don’t regret the fun stuff, but he might say at 64 he should have looked after himself a bit better. He’s never naturally looked after his health.”
Asked about his recovery she added: “It’s a lot to do with not being mobile, being bedridden a lot of the time.
“You just get weaker and so there’s various complications, but he seems to be definitely improving. Obviously, we don’t know [about long-term effects of illness]. But obviously we hope not. We’re just hoping he’s going to be okay.”
She said Shane was planning to make new music when he gets home plus “I know he has other things he wants to do”. She concluded: “He defies the odds and has something more in him he wants to share.”
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