Hundreds bid farewell to Boyzone star

About 1,000 mourners today lined the streets where Stephen Gately was raised in an unforgettable send-off to the late Boyzone star.

The remaining bandmates joined close family and neighbourhood friends in St Laurence O'Toole Church in Dublin for an emotional farewell.

X-factor judge Louis Walsh, who founded the band in the mid-90s, paid his own personal tribute to Gately as mourners filed into the chapel before midday.

"It's a difficult day but we have to celebrate his life," Walsh said.

"It's an incredible atmosphere in the church, all his best friends are there, his family are there, it's what he would have wanted. He was just a great person."

Walsh described Boyzone as Gately's family.

The remaining bandmates, Ronan Keating, Mikey Graham, Shane Lynch and Keith Duffy spent the night in the church holding a wake for the West End star they have called their brother.

The four also planned to sing at the service.

Walsh added: "Stephen was a great person, never offended anybody in his whole life, never gave me any problems.

"I think this is the best place in the world for him today, this is where he grew up."

Members of Westlife, Sir Elton John's partner David Furnish and former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern attended the service, relayed on loudspeakers outside.

Parents Margaret and Martin, brothers Mark, Alan and Tony and sister Michelle and his partner Andrew Cowles supported each other during a short private prayer vigil at the chapel last night.

Hundreds of residents, carrying single roses prepared for their own special floral tribute to the pop star during his home-coming to his working-class roots.

Gately was found dead on the sofa in his apartment in Port Andratx after a night out with Mr Cowles and friend Georgi Dochev.

A post-mortem examination found he died from natural causes, the medical report recording pulmonary oedema or fluid on the lungs.

His body was flown home on a private plane with Mr Cowles and the remaining Boyzone members, who have had tattoos in honour of Gately with the letter "S" and dates "76 09" etched on their skin.

Mr Ahern, who's daughter Georgina is married to Westlife star Nicky Byrne, defended Gately as a "good guy".

As the politician signed a book of condolence and sympathised with local residents, he said the singer was a happy person Dubliners were proud of.

Mr Ahern said he couldn't understand the negative publicity surrounding the tragic death.

"You could see it last Sunday and Monday, I was in London and everyone was waiting to write something and find some sensational piece," said Mr Ahern.

"The guy is a good guy and he died of natural causes and this is his funeral so I'll never understand why people don't leave these things simple.

"He was a very happy person. That's everything I ever heard."

Mr Ahern, who represents the resident of Dublin's north side, said there was a huge sense of pride in what Gately achieved.

"While this is very sad for the lads, people are so happy he achieved so much," said Mr Ahern.

"It is nice to see so many people care about him.

"This is his heartland and they are great people, great fun and they are very proud of Stephen.

"He is one of their own and that's the way they look at it here because he always came back."

Mr Ahern said the Gately family have always been part of the community.

"They could have gone lots of places and they didn't. They were very much part of the community and the church," he said.

Mr Ahern said it was a tough time for the remaining Boyzone members.

"They were so proud of what they achieved, so proud that they got back together last year and they just wanted to build on that," he added.

"Whatever happens in the future is the future. This is a tough period."