Heartbreak for Majella O’Donnell as Her Father Tom Roche Dies After Brain Haemorrhage
Tenerife, Spain — The Irish entertainment world is mourning alongside Majella O’Donnell, wife of singer Daniel O’Donnell, following the sudden and heartbreaking death of her beloved father, Tom Roche. Mr. Roche passed away peacefully in hospital in Tenerife on Wednesday evening at 6:30 p.m., surrounded by his family after suffering a brain haemorrhage earlier in the week.
The tragedy struck unexpectedly when Tom, a native of Co. Tipperary, fell down the stairs at his home on Sunday night. He was rushed to hospital, where tests revealed he had sustained severe head injuries. Despite the best efforts of medical staff, his condition deteriorated, and family members gathered by his bedside in his final hours.
A statement released on Daniel O’Donnell’s official website confirmed the sad news, reading:
“It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Thomas Roche, Daniel’s father-in-law. Husband of Marion, father to Michael, Josephine, Majella, and Moira, who passed away peacefully at 6:30 p.m. this evening. May he rest in peace.”
The news has left Majella devastated. She had remained by her father’s side during his final days, offering prayers and comfort to her mother Marion and her siblings. Friends close to the family say Majella is “completely heartbroken,” describing the loss as “a devastating blow” for someone already enduring her own battle with breast cancer.
A close family friend told reporters, “Majella is just heartbroken. She was incredibly close to both her mum and dad. Tom was a lovely, kind man, loved by everyone who met him. His death came out of the blue — it’s a terrible shock to the whole family.”
“Majella has shown such courage over the past few years,” the friend added. “She faced her illness with remarkable bravery and openness, but this has really set her back. Still, she’s a strong woman, and with Daniel’s support, she’ll find a way through the grief.”
Tom Roche was widely known and respected in both Ireland and Tenerife, where he and his wife Marion ran a successful family bar. It was there, in 1999, that Daniel O’Donnell first met his future wife. The couple’s love story began in that very bar — a place that would later hold special meaning for both families.
Following news of Mr. Roche’s condition, Daniel immediately cancelled several dates on his British tour to be by his wife’s side. Those close to him say he has been “deeply affected” by his father-in-law’s death and is focusing on supporting Majella and the Roche family during this difficult time.
Fans from across Ireland and abroad have expressed their condolences, flooding social media with messages of sympathy and love. Many recalled meeting Tom at his bar in Tenerife, describing him as “a true gentleman” who always had a warm smile and a kind word for everyone.
The O’Donnell family has requested privacy as they grieve their loss and make funeral arrangements. A service will be held in Tenerife before Tom’s remains are brought home to Ireland for burial in his native Co. Tipperary.
For Majella, who has faced her share of challenges in recent years, this loss is an unimaginable sorrow. Yet those who know her best say that her father’s strength and faith live on in her. “She adored her dad,” said a longtime friend. “He was her hero — gentle, funny, and full of life. Losing him is the hardest thing she’s ever faced.”
As the family prepares to say their goodbyes, fans and friends alike have united in prayer and remembrance — not just for a much-loved man, but for the daughter he leaves behind, who has shown time and again what courage truly looks like.
May Tom Roche rest in peace.