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LOUIS RIFT WITH STEPHEN GATELY HUBBY
THIS is the dramatic moment Louis Walsh flinched as he was hugged by Stephen Gately's husband yesterday - revealing the secret tensions behind the star's funeral.
The Boyzone mentor and X Factor judge pulls back, clenches his fists in frustration and makes no effort to share the embrace with an emotional Andy Cowles.
Stephen's family also gave Cowles the cold shoulder, avoiding him at the service.
He was not embraced by Stephen's parents Martin and Margaret, who shared warm hugs with the Boyzone singers.
And it was telling the Boyzone stars and family members wore splashes of Stephen's favourite colour red in a tribute but Cowles did not. Stephen's brothers and sister also kept their distance from Cowles. A source revealed that, tragically, Stephen had spent recent years in a feud with his family over Cowles - who they did not think was right for their beloved son.
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The funeral - how the day unfolded
Louis, who described Stephen as his very best friend, never forgave internet entrepreneur Cowles for his attack on the Boyzone star outside London's famous Ivy restaurant six years ago.
Gately himself dismissed it as a tiff. But the pictures tell a different story, with a menacing-looking Cowles gripping his new partner in a headlock.
VIOLENT: Cowles gets Stephen in headlock in 2006 Louis pointedly did not attend either their 2003 commitment ceremony in Las Vegas or their London civil partnership ceremony in 2006 because of his opinion of Cowles. A source revealed: "Louis had his concerns about Andy, especially after their big bust-up outside The Ivy. He missed their civil union, which surprised a lot of people.
"Louis is very fair-minded but he always wanted what was best for Stephen. He was protective of him."
The tension between Cowles and Stephen's family was also blamed on the pavement bust-up.
The pair had been dining with pals and started bickering. When they decided to take it outside, Stephen got caught in a headlock by Cowles. Stephen later played down the incident afterwards and Cowles said: "We've never hit each other before. It was just a tipsy bitch-slap situation."
But photographer Greg Brennan, who stepped in to break up the fight, has a different recollection.
He told the News of the World: "This was no lovers' tiff. It was far more serious. Andrew gave Stephen a pounding.
"Andrew was punching and kicking him. I had to do something. He was kicking him in the head. I managed to drag Andrew off and Stephen ran back to the restaurant to clean himself up.
"There was some blood and he was crying his eyes out.
"A policeman saw what had happened and Stephen just passed it off as a tiff but it was pure domestic violence in my eyes. I have seen a lot of celebrities getting into fights in my time but this was one of the worst. Poor Stephen took a load of shots to the head with both fists and feet. It was bang out of order."
Last night a pal of the singer revealed the extent of the family feud.
"It's unbelievably tragic. Stephen had no contact with Margaret or Martin up until a year ago.
"He wasn't friendly with them at all because of his marriage to Andy, who they just couldn't accept. They didn't go to either of their civil unions in Las Vegas or London.
"They were worried about Stephen and his marriage and his future. The closeness they once had was fundamentally damaged.
"They tried to patch things up over the last year but things were never the same. Andy is a constant reminder of that for them."
The friend added: "Margaret is completely haunted by their final years. She loved Stephen more than anything and wishes it hadn't been that way now."
Before his death Stephen admitted the rift, saying: "It was crazy because you need your family and I isolated myself to a degree."
Pictures: PETER POWELL