Sinead O’Connor has clarified her plans to retire from music, insisting the “knee-jerk” statement came after a week of “abuse” from the media. 

The Nothing Compares 2 U hitmaker had been promoting her memoir ‘Rememberings’ when she took to Twitter to tell fans she was quitting music after her upcoming 2022 album ‘No Veteran Dies Alone’. 

In a post, she penned: “This is to announce my retirement from touring and from working in the record business. I’ve gotten older and I’m tired.

“So it’s time for me to hang up my nipple tassels, having truly given my all. [‘No Veteran Dies Alone’] in 2022 will be my last release. And there’ll be no more touring or promo.”

The hitmaker continued: “It’s not sad news. It’s staggeringly beautiful news. A wise warrior knows when he or she should retreat: #MeTime.

“It’s been a forty year journey. Time to put the feet up and make other dreams come true.”

However, after resting on the idea, Sinead returned to social media with a lengthy statement, retracting her retirement claims and explaining the “hurtful” events that led to her making the announcement. 

“When I embarked upon the promo for my book, I ought have had a counsellor on board,” she began. “Because I hadn’t realised how much talking about the past, particularly my experience of abuse not only as a child, but as a legally vulnerable adult.

“Abuse which takes the form of in particular some UK media either using their knowledge that I am legally vulnerable to invalidate, disrespect, hurt, deride and or generally treat like a Russian dancing bear, would trigger so much catharsis. 

“Last Tuesday it was unnecessary and hurtful for women’s hour of all people, to remind me of the awfully abusive statement written about me by an Irish man for a UK paper; some years ago. representing me as the Jane Eyre-esquires ‘Madwoman in the attic”…

“hardly surprising the same BBC who enabled and facilitated and then covered up for Jimmy Saville, has so cleverly employed female misogynists to control women’s hour.”

The singer admitted the “emotional and psychological abuse” – along with other incidents – left her “badly triggered” and feeling “that I’d be better off (safer) if I ran away and gave up being in music at all.”

“But I love my job. Making music that is. I don’t like the consequences of being a talented (and outspoken woman) being that I have to wade through walls of prejudice every day to make a living.

“But I am born for live performance and with the astonishing love and support I have received in the last few days… I feel safe in retracting my expressed wish to retire and I will in fact be doing all shows currently booked for 2022.”

Extending her “heartfelt apologies to all fans, buyers, promoters, venues and hot dog sellers for the fright I’ve given you,” Sinead added: “Also, I lied when I said I’m past my peak. Ain’t no such f**kin thing. (sic)”

Sinead’s memoir is available from Amazon, Waterstones and WH Smith. Signed copies are also available.