Boyzone member Stephen Gately’s funeral will take place in Dublin on Saturday, and his famous friends are expected to fly into Ireland to pay their respects.
The 33-year-old Irish singer was close to Elton John and Andrew Lloyd Webber, who have both expressed their condolences and paid tribute to the star.
Gately, who died on Saturday from natural causes, will be given a proper farewell from his Boyzone bandmates, who have been extremely supportive to the singer’s family since his untimely death.
Ronan Keating, Mikey Graham, Keith Duffy and Shane Lynch all flew to Majorca, where Gately passed away, to be by the side of Andy Cowles, Gately’s husband of several years.
Now Keating, Graham and Duffy have traveled to Dublin and visited Jennings Funeral Home on Amiens Street to arrange their friend’s burial. They also stopped by the Gately home to discuss funeral arrangements with the family, and to comfort Stephen’s parents, Martin and Margaret.
Lynch is expected to join his bandmates in Dublin in the coming days.
Gerald Kean, an Irish lawyer and spokesperson for Gately’s family, told Ireland’s Evening Herald: “The family are so delighted that the lads from Boyzone are so involved and taking such an active role.
“It’s the way Stephen would have wanted it. Ronan, Mikey, Keith and Shane have been wonderful.”
The funeral service is set to take place at St. Laurence O’Toole Church near where Gately was raised in Dublin.
It was revealed by Spanish authorities on Tuesday that Gately died from pulmonary edema, a build-up of fluid on the lungs.
The Gately family believes the condition was a result of an underlying heart condition.
Despite rumors that Gately choked on his vomit after a night of heavy drinking, a spokesperson for the court said: “I can categorically state that he did not choke on his own vomit”.
Boyzone member Mikey Graham lashed out at those who spread rumors of alcohol and drug abuse, saying: “Stephen passed away innocently, unlike what some media sources are trying to insinuate.
“Their comments are so hurtful and untrue.”
Gately’s family is expected to take Stephen’s body back home in the coming days.
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