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Dublin Live
Dublin Live
Entertainment
Rachel Curran

Boyzone's Ronan Keating shares throwback pics of Stephen Gately on anniversary of his death

Ronan Keating has shared some throwback photos along with a heartbreaking message to mark the anniversary of Stephen Gately's death.

The Boyzone singer posted old pics of Stephen on his Instagram page, saying the loss doesn't get any easier. He wrote: "13 years and doesn’t get any easier because I know how much living ya had in ya. Miss ya dude. A heavy heart."

Keith Duffy also paid tribute to Stephen and admitted his death still leaves an massive hole in his life. He said: "“I have photographs of me and Ste all over my house. He’s a big part of my family still and will always be.

Read more: Boyzone slept with Stephen Gately's coffin on church floor to ease mam's fear after tragic death

"I can’t actually believe it’s 13 years since Stephen passed. It’s still hard for me to believe he is no longer with us." He added: "It’s so tragic. He was taken too soon. He left a massive hole in my life.

Ronan Keating and Stephen Gately (Ronan Keating/Instagram)

“Stephen was my brother and my best friend. I talk to him all the time. I still feel his ­presence. He’s on stage with me every time I go on.”

Stephen collapsed and died from an undiagnosed heart condition aged just 33. He was on holiday in Majorca with husband Andrew Cowles when he died. A postmortem showed he had a pulmonary oedema – fluid in his lungs – because of an undiagnosed congenital heart defect.

Keith and his Boyzone bandmates Ronan Keating, 45, Shane Lynch, 46, and 50-year-old Mikey Graham gave the eulogy at Stephen’s funeral in Dublin. Keith and Ronan were pallbearers as the city gathered to say goodbye to one of its best-loved sons.

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