Author and musician Adele Bertei has accused producer David Holmes of exploiting Sinéad O’Connor’s memory after he posted about work on the singer’s final album, according to NME.
The post from Holmes marked the third anniversary of O’Connor’s death and said they had been working on an album titled “No Veteran Dies Alone.” He also shared photos of texts from O’Connor in which she praised the music and said she wanted to keep making records with him.
Bertei, who wrote Sinéad O’Connor’s Universal Mother, responded on Instagram by claiming O’Connor had later removed Holmes from the project because she was unhappy with his production. She said Holmes was taking credit for work that was not solely his and urged people not to be misled by his posts.
Holmes has said he is unsure whether the album will ever be released, though he described it as a “stone cold classic” and a love letter to O’Connor’s children and the world. NME said it has reached out to a spokesperson for Holmes for comment.
O’Connor died in July 2023 at age 56. Her death was later attributed to asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and she continues to be remembered as one of Ireland’s most influential artists.
