Gately judge confirms 'natural causes'

A judge has officially confirmed that Stephen Gately died of natural causes.

Investigating judge Carmen Abrines revealed the verdict after studying police and pathology reports and interviewing Gately's husband Andy Cowles, the Irish Independent reports.

Judge Abrines said: "I have concluded that the death was due to natural causes.

"At no moment in the police investigation, or in the autopsy, were there any indications of violence."

The earlier autopsy had revealed that Gately suffered from undiagnosed atheromatosis, a thickening of the arteries.

Though the Boyzone star had drunk alcohol and smoked cannabis before he died, these were not factors in his death.

Gately, 33, died in his sleep on October 10 while on holiday with Cowles in Majorca.