Ronan Keating - Keating Tears Over Gately's Death

RONAN KEATING only came to terms with the death of BOYZONE bandmate STEPHEN GATELY when he was confronted with his coffin - branding the experience "the hardest thing" he has ever done.

Keating was devastated to learn of his friend's passing last month (Oct09), and he and his bandmates - Keith Duffy, Shane Lynch and Mikey Graham - all flew out to Majorca, Spain to bring his body back.

They spent the night before the funeral in Dublin, Ireland with Gately's coffin in St. Laurence O'Toole's church - an experience which Keating struggled with.

He tells Sky News, "To turn up on the Friday night at the funeral home was the hardest thing I think I've ever had to do in my life. And I think all the lads feel the same, I know they do.

"When I walked into the funeral home I just crumbled, as we all did. I fell to pieces. It was there that I realised he was gone, really gone and that was very hard for all of us."

Gately died at his home in Majorca, Spain on 10 October (09) from a build-up of fluid in his lungs. A coroner ruled he died from natural causes.