Gately’s body can make final journey home, rules judge

THE body of Boyzone star Stephen Gately can make a final, sad journey home after his death on the island of Majorca, a judge said yesterday following a postmortem examination on the Irish pop star.

Lawyer Gerald Kean, a spokesman for Gately’s family in Ireland, said papers had been signed to allow the release of his body.

But he said it may be two days before it is returned to Ireland.

“The family’s only wish is to get their son and brother home as soon as possible,” Mr Kean said.

Mr Kean has said claims the singer went on an eight-hour booze binge before he died are exaggerated and said the family were “absolutely happy that there is no foul play”.

The family are certain no drugs were involved in his death and they do not suspect suicide, he added.

Gately died last Saturday after a night out with his husband at gay nightclub Black Cat in Palma.

Mr Kean said Gately had been in his apartment with his partner, Andy Cowles, until after midnight on Friday, when he travelled to Palma, about an hour’s drive away.

A close family member spoke to the singer at 12.30am Spanish time on Saturday as he was getting ready to leave, the lawyer said.

It is understood Gately spent several hours socialising and was back in the apartment before 6am.

The pair invited a 25-year-old Bulgarian, Georgi Dochev, whom they met at the club, back to their apartment.

Mr Dochev has spoken of his horror at finding Gately “white and very cold” on his sofa after his sudden death but declined to go into details about what happened in the hours leading up to the tragedy.

Mr Dochev is expected to be called before the judge in the next few days.

Gately’s devastated partner visited the Boyzone singer’s body last night to pay his respects before it is flown home. Mr Cowles arrived at the municipal cemetery in Calvia, near Port Andratx, being driven in a dark BMW. He stayed for about 15 minutes and left without comment.

He is expected to travel back to Dublin with the singer’s body on Friday.

Earlier, the 32-year-old British man had tears in his eyes as he left a court in Palma at lunchtime after giving Judge Carmen Abrines a witness statement. He also signed release papers for his partner’s body.

He was too upset to speak as he left the building dressed in blue jeans, brown leather shoes and an open-necked blue shirt.

But a court spokesman said: “The judge has authorised Stephen’s family to take his body back home. The court will wait for definite results of tests from Barcelona. While they wait the investigation is open.

“Stephen’s husband has given a witness statement. The judge will take a statement from the other witness present in the next few days.

“If all these steps confirm natural causes, the case will be closed.”

Gately’s devastated Boyzone bandmates, who flew to the Spanish island on Sunday, returned home on Monday night.

A spokesman said: “They went there to pay their respects and start dealing with the fallout of the situation.”

The band comforted Mr Cowles before they left.