POP/ROCK - May 1, 1991

Hammering Home a Point: Sinead O’Connor, the controversial Irish rock star who lived in Los Angeles for approximately six months, has returned to London--and she’s sending the $2,600 air ticket bill to rapper M. C. Hammer. Angered by various O’Connor criticisms of his music and image, the rapper said in a March interview in The Times that O’Connor ought to “go home” and that he’d pay her way. A spokeswoman for O’Connor said Tuesday the singer read the interview and thought it would be only fitting to take Hammer up on his offer. Elaine Shock, the singer’s publicist, said O’Connor returned to London, where she lived before Los Angeles, so her 4-year-old son could be closer to his father, musician John Reynolds. Hammer’s management firm in Oakland had no immediate comment.