Emotional moment Johnny Depp patted Shane MacGowan’s coffin to say goodbye – as Fairytale Of New York singer’s widow reveals how he urged his friend to forgive ex-wife Amber Heard
Johnny Depp had an emotional moment as he touched the coffin of his friend and Pogues singer Shane MacGowan.
McGowan, who died last week after a battle with pneumonia, is best known for the Christmas classic “Fairy Tale of New York,” which is expected to reach No. 1 in the charts this season.
The Irish singer was released from hospital more than a week ago after undergoing treatment for viral encephalitis, a condition that causes swelling of the brain.
His funeral took place yesterday, December 8, which would have been Sinead O’Connor’s 57th birthday.
The photo shows Johnny Depp saying goodbye to his friend Shane MacGowan at a funeral.
McGowan (pictured), who died last week after battling pneumonia, is best known for the Christmas classic Fairytale of New York.
The service at St Mary of the Rosary Church in Nenagh, Co Tipperary, was attended by celebrities including Nick Cave, Bob Geldof and Depp.
Depp was joined by Hothouse Flowers frontman Liam O’Maonlai as they read prayers from the faithful during the service.
The Pirates of the Caribbean star previously attended McGowan’s wedding to Victoria Mary Clarke.
McGowan’s coffin was carried to the front of the church, draped in the Irish tricolor flag, and placed next to a large black and white photograph of the Pogues singer.
In an emotional scene, Depp patted the coffin to say goodbye to his old friend.
Johnny Depp is pictured giving a reading during McGowan’s funeral on Friday afternoon.
Johnny Depp read the prayers of believers during a service in honor of the Poges icon
Shane MacGowan’s widow said the singer urged Johnny Depp to forgive his ex-wife Amber Heard (pictured)
Depp, who previously attended McGowan’s wedding to Victoria Mary Clarke, was photographed next to the coffin in the crowd.
Hollywood star Johnny Depp arrived at Shane MacGowan’s funeral on Friday afternoon.
Later, a group of men, including Depp, helped carry McGowan’s coffin out of the service to thunderous applause.
Ms Clarke displayed symbols of her late husband during the funeral mass, including a copy of an album by Johnny Depp, whom she described as a “huge fan” of the Pogues frontman.
She also said her late husband “wouldn’t be mad at anyone” while addressing the crowd at his funeral.
Speaking to Hollywood actor Depp, she added: “I hope you don’t mind,” before telling mourners how her late husband “persuaded” him to forgive Heard.
Nick Cave, a friend of McGowan’s, performed at the Irish Pogues star’s funeral.
Paying tribute to him at his funeral, she said his death “took us all by surprise” as she kept “thinking he had come home.”
Former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams gave the opening speech at the funeral, praising McGowan’s “genius” and saying his music would live “forever”. His words were met with applause and approval from those gathered.
McGowan’s coffin was brought into the church ahead of yesterday’s funeral service after the singer died at home last week.
A church in Co Tipperary was packed with mourners after McGowan’s coffin traveled 99 miles from Dublin.
Ms Clarke said: “I hope you don’t mind me saying this, Johnny, but when Johnny had a court case involving his ex-wife Amber, and Shane had a long talk with you, didn’t he, and convinced you forgive Amber? .
“He just thought it was the best option because he truly believed in forgiveness.
“And I’m sure you already have—of course you do!” Of course yes!
Amber Heard has been embroiled in a series of bitter legal battles she and Depp have fought since their 15-month marriage collapsed into a quagmire of abuse allegations.
Depp and his ex-wife eventually settled their libel claims against each other in December after five years of acrimonious legal battles.
Ms Clarke was pictured in tears as she grieved before the coffin was brought into the church.
A photograph of late Irish singer Shane MacGowan is displayed on the day of his funeral procession in Tipperary, Ireland.
It comes days after McGowan returned home after being discharged from hospital due to a brain condition, with his wife Victoria sharing a photo of him lying in his hospital bed.
Tributes to the Irish music legend have poured in from all over the world.
Paying tribute, she said his death “took us all by surprise” as everyone “thought he had come home.”
More than 30,000 people lined the streets, and the service was standing room only. Police cordoned off large areas of south Dublin to allow crowds to pay their respects to the star as his coffin was carried through the city.
Former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams gave the opening speech at the funeral, praising McGowan’s “genius” and saying his music would live “forever”. His words were met with applause and applause from the crowd.
Shane began his journey in a horse-drawn carriage from South Lotts Road, then traveled along Pearce Street and Westland Row, giving the fans who loved him dearly the opportunity to say their final goodbyes.
Mourners applauded as the funeral procession crossed Dublin’s McMahon Bridge, with the sounds of “Fairy Tales of New York” and “A Rainy Night in Soho” blasting from a speaker in honor of the late musician.
The public threw flowers and musicians played A Pair of Brown Eyes as the funeral procession passed Sweeney’s Pharmacy in Dublin city centre, which featured in James Joyce’s Ulysses.
Outside Sweeney’s Pharmacy in Dublin city centre, a group of musicians led mourners in a tearful rendition of Pose’s Christmas classic “Fairytale Of New York”.
Mourners, many holding photographs of Shane MacGowan, sang “Dirty Old Town” after his funeral procession through the streets of Dublin.
At one point, the funeral cortege stopped in Westland Row as the Artane Band performed his hit Christmas song, Fairytale of New York.