Black Widow
10-17-2009, 08:42 AM
GRIEF-stricken RONAN KEATING said yesterday that "Nothing will ever be the same" after the tragic death of his BOYZONE bandmate STEPHEN GATELY.
Ronan, 32, looked near tears as he read a heart-breaking statement.
The four remaining members of the boyband had flown to Majorca, where Stephen, 33, died last Saturday, to take his body home to Ireland.
It was the first time the band had spoke publicly since he died.
Ronan, KEITH DUFFY, 35, MIKEY GRAHAM, 37, and SHANE LYNCH, 33, stood shoulder-to-shoulder at Palma Airport.
Ronan said: "Our world changed forever when we lost our friend and brother Stephen.
"We have come to Majorca to accompany our pal on his final journey back to Dublin." He added: "Nothing will ever be the same without our dearest friend. Rest in peace, brother."
The group all have matching memorial tattoos - a Superman-style "S" for Stephen, followed by the figures 76 09, the years of his birth and death.
Ronan's tattoo could be seen on his right biceps muscle under his grey T-shirt, while Shane's was etched on his left hand.
With Mikey's arm around his shoulder, Ronan told how the band and Stephen's shattered family had been "overwhelmed" by the support they have received.
Keith and Mikey both wore dark glasses to hide their reddened eyes.
They flew to Majorca by private jet and stayed for less than an hour while the coffin was loaded on the plane.
Boyzone promised Stephen's family they would "look after Stephen" on his final journey.
Yesterday evening, after landing in Dublin, his bandmates carried his coffin into St Laurence O'Toole church, where they were due to spend the night in a vigil beside his body - because he hated to be alone in the dark.
Around 300 fans outside the church applauded.
The hearse taking Stephen was decked out with three wreaths, reading: "Our son", "Our Steo" and "Our brother".
A banner on the church railings read: "Goodbye, Stephen."
Band manager LOUIS WALSH, 57, followed the coffin into church.
Ronan, whose wife YVONNE was in tears, hugged Stephen's partner ANDREW COWLES, 32, who was overcome.
Earlier a private vigil was held at a Dublin funeral parlour.
Ronan and Shane consoled members of Stephen's family, including his brother Mark.
One mourner who viewed Stephen's body said: "He looked so young, so peaceful. He was just so beautiful, like he was asleep."
At today's service, the foursome are to sing for the first time without Stephen. Ronan is expected to deliver a tribute at the altar.
Numb
A source close to the band yesterday said the group had their matching tattoos done at a parlour in Dublin on Wednesday.
That was a day after they returned from a one-night trip to Majorca to comfort Andrew.
The insider said: "They are numb with shock. The tattoos are a symbol of eternal love for Stephen."
Stephen's body was found "pale and cold" in his luxury £1million apartment on the south-west coast of the Spanish island after a night out with his internet tycoon partner Andrew.
They had drinks in at least two gay bars in Palma, before going home with 25-year-old Bulgarian clubber Georgi Dochev.
Police say Stephen died of natural causes.
He suffered an acute pulmonary oedema, a rapid build-up of fluid in the lungs.
Super Stephen by Boyzone
THIS is the full statement read out by devastated Ronan Keating on behalf of his Boyzone bandmates as they paid tribute to Stephen Gately yesterday at Palma Airport in Majorca:
LAST Saturday our world changed forever when we lost our friend and brother Stephen.
We have come to Majorca today to accompany our pal on his final journey back to Dublin, where we know he will be given an unforgettable send-off tomorrow.
We'd like to thank the authorities here for their help and for the respect they have shown to our friend.
Stephen and Andrew had chosen to make Majorca their second home and we know that Stephen loved the times they spent together here.
The countless messages of love and support we have received this week have truly overwhelmed ourselves and the Gately family.
We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for each and every one of them.
We would also like to thank the media for respecting our privacy this week and ask that you continue to do so tomorrow.
Stephen lived to perform and truly loved being centre stage.
You can be sure he's looking down on us now wishing we'd move over so he could flash his smile for the cameras one more time.
What the future holds for the four of us now is too hard to even think about.
But we know that nothing will ever be the same without our dearest friend, Stephen . . . Rest in peace, brother.
The Sun
Ronan, 32, looked near tears as he read a heart-breaking statement.
The four remaining members of the boyband had flown to Majorca, where Stephen, 33, died last Saturday, to take his body home to Ireland.
It was the first time the band had spoke publicly since he died.
Ronan, KEITH DUFFY, 35, MIKEY GRAHAM, 37, and SHANE LYNCH, 33, stood shoulder-to-shoulder at Palma Airport.
Ronan said: "Our world changed forever when we lost our friend and brother Stephen.
"We have come to Majorca to accompany our pal on his final journey back to Dublin." He added: "Nothing will ever be the same without our dearest friend. Rest in peace, brother."
The group all have matching memorial tattoos - a Superman-style "S" for Stephen, followed by the figures 76 09, the years of his birth and death.
Ronan's tattoo could be seen on his right biceps muscle under his grey T-shirt, while Shane's was etched on his left hand.
With Mikey's arm around his shoulder, Ronan told how the band and Stephen's shattered family had been "overwhelmed" by the support they have received.
Keith and Mikey both wore dark glasses to hide their reddened eyes.
They flew to Majorca by private jet and stayed for less than an hour while the coffin was loaded on the plane.
Boyzone promised Stephen's family they would "look after Stephen" on his final journey.
Yesterday evening, after landing in Dublin, his bandmates carried his coffin into St Laurence O'Toole church, where they were due to spend the night in a vigil beside his body - because he hated to be alone in the dark.
Around 300 fans outside the church applauded.
The hearse taking Stephen was decked out with three wreaths, reading: "Our son", "Our Steo" and "Our brother".
A banner on the church railings read: "Goodbye, Stephen."
Band manager LOUIS WALSH, 57, followed the coffin into church.
Ronan, whose wife YVONNE was in tears, hugged Stephen's partner ANDREW COWLES, 32, who was overcome.
Earlier a private vigil was held at a Dublin funeral parlour.
Ronan and Shane consoled members of Stephen's family, including his brother Mark.
One mourner who viewed Stephen's body said: "He looked so young, so peaceful. He was just so beautiful, like he was asleep."
At today's service, the foursome are to sing for the first time without Stephen. Ronan is expected to deliver a tribute at the altar.
Numb
A source close to the band yesterday said the group had their matching tattoos done at a parlour in Dublin on Wednesday.
That was a day after they returned from a one-night trip to Majorca to comfort Andrew.
The insider said: "They are numb with shock. The tattoos are a symbol of eternal love for Stephen."
Stephen's body was found "pale and cold" in his luxury £1million apartment on the south-west coast of the Spanish island after a night out with his internet tycoon partner Andrew.
They had drinks in at least two gay bars in Palma, before going home with 25-year-old Bulgarian clubber Georgi Dochev.
Police say Stephen died of natural causes.
He suffered an acute pulmonary oedema, a rapid build-up of fluid in the lungs.
Super Stephen by Boyzone
THIS is the full statement read out by devastated Ronan Keating on behalf of his Boyzone bandmates as they paid tribute to Stephen Gately yesterday at Palma Airport in Majorca:
LAST Saturday our world changed forever when we lost our friend and brother Stephen.
We have come to Majorca today to accompany our pal on his final journey back to Dublin, where we know he will be given an unforgettable send-off tomorrow.
We'd like to thank the authorities here for their help and for the respect they have shown to our friend.
Stephen and Andrew had chosen to make Majorca their second home and we know that Stephen loved the times they spent together here.
The countless messages of love and support we have received this week have truly overwhelmed ourselves and the Gately family.
We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for each and every one of them.
We would also like to thank the media for respecting our privacy this week and ask that you continue to do so tomorrow.
Stephen lived to perform and truly loved being centre stage.
You can be sure he's looking down on us now wishing we'd move over so he could flash his smile for the cameras one more time.
What the future holds for the four of us now is too hard to even think about.
But we know that nothing will ever be the same without our dearest friend, Stephen . . . Rest in peace, brother.
The Sun