What some celebrities said when they heard the news of Stephen's death.

Although I know and like all of the Boyzone guys, it's definitely Stephen I have been closest to.

Last year, when the guys performed on the X-Factor final with Eoghan Quigg, we all went out together afterwards and to see him and Andy together at the table would lift anyone's spirits.

Even as we were all sitting there together they were constantly sharing secret little smiles and brushing hands and they were just madly in love.

Stephen always had time for everyone and he did his best to make everyone feel welcome and part of the conversation.

He just had amazing talent and charisma, both on and off the stage.

The funny thing is that I promoted a gig with them in Mitchelstown in Cork years ago, when I was just 13 or 14, and they were the same guys then that they are now. Stephen never let the fame go to his head and never forgot his roots.

I was on the way home from a night out when I got the text and it's only now it's starting to sink in.

A journalist friend of mine was at the X Factor and when I heard it from him, I knew it had to be true. It's just a terrible waste of life.

There are very people out there, especially in the cut-throat pop industry, who don't let it go to their heads.

People can get very ratty sometimes when they're doing interviews and are on their 10th one that day but Stephen was never like that. I've never seen him in bad form.

-- BAND MANAGER JAMES HYLAND

We are all devastated by the news and we would like to extend our deepest sympathies to his family, friends, bandmates and, of course, his husband Andrew.

Stephen was always a great friend of the clubs. He was a kind and sweet gentleman and always had a smile on his face.

It's a terrible tragedy and our thoughts are with his loved ones at this difficult time.

-- LILLIE'S BORDELLO HOSTESS Hayley RocK

"This is really, really tragic news. I want to send out my condolences."

- SIMON COWELL

"Stephen was one of the good guys in the business. I worked with him for around 20 years and he was always helpful and likeable."

- PETER AIKEN

"I saw Stephen just recently, because he uses the same gym as me when he's back in Dublin.

To be honest, I thought he seemed to be in the best form that I'd seen him."

He was very happy, madly in love with his partner and delighted that Boyzone were back together again."

- BRIAN KENNEDY

"I knew him well and it's very sad.

The last time I saw him at an event he was just so happy. He was on top of the world with his marriage, his career. Life was good and you could see it in him.

It's a real tragedy because he was such a lovely and genuine guy.

I met him towards the end of Boyzone the first time around.

Would you believe we met on planes back and forth from Dublin to London?

We were both on the same flight a few times and we used to sit together and have a chat and catch up. He was also on my show on TV3 a few years ago and I just couldn't say a bad word about him.

We had a couple of mutual friends and we used to bump into each other at different things.

I didn't find out until Sunday morning as I had gone to bed early on Saturday as I was down in the sticks in Wicklow.

I had 10 texts on my phone when I woke up, all with the same terrible news.

I feel so awful for his lovely husband, Andrew. My heart goes out to them all.

- Brendan Courtney

We all remember that infamous night they were on The Late Late Show for the first time.

They were the epitome of 'can't sing, can't dance, can't perform but could go very far'. We little realised then just how far they would go and just how successful they would be.

It's always extremely tragic when someone at the height of their fame is suddenly struck down like that. It's such a terrible loss.

I haven't crossed paths with Stephen per se in the last few years, but I've certainly come across the boys as a group and I did a long interview with one of his bandmates, Ronan Keating, on a television show for RTE last year.

They all have a great grasp of show business and they know their place in it. They're good blokes doing what they do and they never lost touch with reality. I found out very early on Sunday morning, I heard it on a radio news bulletin and I was very sorry to hear it.

-- Gay Byrne

He was one of the nicest guys I've ever worked with.

He was always happy and always willing to work hard to stay fit and healthy.

He had a healthy life and didn't cause any harm to anyone, I just can't believe it.

I was with the lads when they found out and they were just devastated. They loved him like a brother, to them he was a brother.

They're all in bits, Keith was just crying his eyes out. He really fell apart. Mikey and Shane were there as well and they were in bits. They're all in shock.

God help them and his family and his husband.

-- Paul Byrne, Stephen's personal trainer

"Stephen was the kindest, gentlest soul. We send our love and condolences to his partner Andy and his friends everywhere."

-- Elton John

I was actually at an event with Keith and his wife Lisa Duffy when the news broke. My partner Dennis' family were involved with the Kathleen Flannelly Rose Ball in aid of The Marie Keating Foundation and Yvonne Keating's brother, James Connolly, was also there and he told us.

They were all in bits and shocked naturally, everyone was. Everyone was in great form up until then, Keith and Lisa had been planning to go to an after-party in Wrights in Swords. It was just really shocking and unexpected.

He was just so young and had so much going for him, he always had time for everybody.

-- Valerie Roe, former hostess with Lillies Bordello.

I'm really really shocked. It just hasn't sunk in at all and I don't know what to say about it. I got the text late on Saturday night and I didn't know whether to believe it or not at first.

I'm just absolutely devastated for him and the guys.

I don't know what I can say, our thoughts are with his family and his husband and he'll be greatly missed. It's a terrible tragedy.

-- Brian Ormond