Stephen Gately

There were emotional scenes in Majorca today, as the four remaining Boyzone members arrived to bring home the body of Stephen Gately.

Ronan Keating read out a heartfelt statement beginning with the words:

"Last Saturday, our world changed forever when we lost our friend and brother." 

"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."

The singer continued:

"Stephen lived to perform and truly loved being centre stage. "You can be sure he's looking down now wishing we'd move over so he could flash a smile for the cameras one more time."

Keating admitted the future of the band was "too hard to even think about" but whatever happened "nothing will ever be the same without our dearest friend Stephen".

Gately's funeral will take place in Dublin's St Laurence O'Toole's Church, at midday tomorrow.

Boyzone star, Stephen Gately has died aged 33.

A message on the bands tour website confirmed that the Irish pop star and actor was on holiday with his long-term partner in Mallorca when he "tragically died" on Saturday night.

Reports suggest that Gately went out for some drinks, returned and went to sleep. He never woke up.

Boyzone manager and X Factor judge Louis Walsh, told The News Of The World: "We're all absolutely devastated."

He said: "I'm in complete shock. I was only with him on Monday at an awards ceremony. We don't know much about what's happened yet.

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"I only heard after The X Factor and we will rally around each other this week. He was a great man."