Dolores O’Riordan was found dead in a London hotel on Jan. 15, 2018 — putting an end to the Cranberries singer’s suffering through a series of personal horrors! Dolores had found worldwide fame fronting one of Ireland’s most successful bands, scoring international hits including “Zombie” and “Linger” through the ’90s. Sadly, her private life began falling apart with a series of shocking scandals and secret tragedies. Before it was over, the star had gone public about being bipolar and suicidal — while also bravely coming forward to talk about surviving a childhood molestation…
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Dolores told the Belfast Telegraph in 2014 about her horror at knowing she'd see her childhood abuser at the 2011 funeral of her father — saying her abuser "used to masturbate me when I was eight years old. He made me do oral sex for him and ejaculated on my chest when I was eight years old...For four years when I was a little girl, I was sexually abused."
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That shocking statement followed Dolores' confession that the mother-of-four had attempted suicide in 2013. “I tried to overdose last year," she said — adding: "I suppose I am meant to stay here for the kids.” Sadly, things only got worse for Dolores in 2014 when she began a divorce from her husband of 20 years — ultimately being hospitalized after a nervous breakdown.
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Her mother Eileen recalled being told that Dolores was being held at a police station. “Dolores was inside in a room," said her mom. "She was lying on the floor, curled up. She had her head covered and her face covered up. She was trying to protect herself. I gave her a hug. I tried to talk to her...She didn’t know who I was. She was trying to cover herself from me.”
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Eileen added that Dolores tested negative for alcohol and drugs. The breakdown came just a week after Dolores had been arrested
for attacking a flight attendant — with the singer later going public with a diagnosis of being bipolar. She also told the
Telegraph's Barry Egan: "I kind of binge drink. That is kind of my biggest flaw at the moment." In a chilling moment, Dolores also warned about other dangerous habits.
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"I cannot have sleeping tablets around," said Dolores, "because if I have a few drinks, I'll take them. On tour, it was just so easy to say: 'I can't sleep, I've had a couple of drinks, maybe I'll take one.' Then you take another. Then you don't wake up. That can happen." But, she insisted: "I am careful now."
Dolores told the Belfast Telegraph in 2014 about her horror at knowing she'd see her childhood abuser at the 2011 funeral of her father — saying her abuser "used to masturbate me when I was eight years old. He made me do oral sex for him and ejaculated on my chest when I was eight years old...For four years when I was a little girl, I was sexually abused."
Photo credit: Getty Images
That shocking statement followed Dolores' confession that the mother-of-four had attempted suicide in 2013. “I tried to overdose last year," she said — adding: "I suppose I am meant to stay here for the kids.” Sadly, things only got worse for Dolores in 2014 when she began a divorce from her husband of 20 years — ultimately being hospitalized after a nervous breakdown.
Photo credit: Getty Images
Her mother Eileen recalled being told that Dolores was being held at a police station. “Dolores was inside in a room," said her mom. "She was lying on the floor, curled up. She had her head covered and her face covered up. She was trying to protect herself. I gave her a hug. I tried to talk to her...She didn’t know who I was. She was trying to cover herself from me.”
Photo credit: Getty Images
Eileen added that Dolores tested negative for alcohol and drugs. The breakdown came just a week after Dolores had been arrested
for attacking a flight attendant — with the singer later going public with a diagnosis of being bipolar. She also told the
Telegraph's Barry Egan: "I kind of binge drink. That is kind of my biggest flaw at the moment." In a chilling moment, Dolores also warned about other dangerous habits.
Photo credit: Getty Images
"I cannot have sleeping tablets around," said Dolores, "because if I have a few drinks, I'll take them. On tour, it was just so easy to say: 'I can't sleep, I've had a couple of drinks, maybe I'll take one.' Then you take another. Then you don't wake up. That can happen." But, she insisted: "I am careful now."
Photo credit: Getty Images
