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Boyzone church vigil on eve of Stephen Gately funeral
London LiteUpdated 12:56pm on 15 Oct 2009
Grieving Boyzone bandmates plan to stay in the church with Stephen Gately's body the night before his funeral.
Support: Ronan Keating wants to stay in the church
Ronan Keating, 32, Mikey Graham, 37, Shane Lynch, 33, and Keith Duffy, 35, have taken the decision because Gately “would not want to be there on his own”, a source close to the group revealed.
The bandmates will fly to Majorca, Spain, today to bring the singer's body home, before it is taken to a funeral home tomorrow for a family viewing.
The body will then be moved to St Laurence O'Toole Church in Dublin, where the funeral will take place on Saturday.
Gately, 33, was found dead at his holiday apartment in Majorca on Saturday, where he and civil partner, Andrew Cowles, 32, were staying.
Gately died of natural causes after a fatal build-up of fluid in the lungs.
Reader views (4)
What good friends Stephen had, and obviously deserved, that they are to stay with his body in church the night before the funeral, cus they didnt think he would want to be alone. God bless you Stephen Gateley. Condolences to the rest of the band, family and friends. Such a loss xxxxx.R I P.
- Gaynor, Tamworth, UK, 16/10/2009 10:23
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Hail Mary, full of grace! The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy wonb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
God bless Stephen Gately, and give his family and friends strength in their hour of need. I've never particularly been a fan but I am so saddened by this death, and by the horrible media intrusion.
- Geek Freak, Paris, Texas, 15/10/2009 21:22
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its what they do at irish funerals. not out of the norm at all. we did it for both my parents.
- Raqroo, London, 15/10/2009 17:26
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Thank you Boyz because I wouldn't want him to be on his own. God Bless
you lads at this one of the hardest times of your lives. All fans will pray for you all. God Bless you Stephen, thank you for many happy and treasured memories for so many fans no matter what their age or where in the world they live.
YNWA
- Marie Poole, ipswich suffolk, 15/10/2009 16:19
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