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 casket of his friend and Pogues singer Shane MacGowan.
MacGowan, who died last week after a battle with pneumonia, is best known for the Christmas classic The Fairytale of New York, which is expected to reach number one in the charts this season.
The Irish singer had been released from hospital more than a week earlier after undergoing treatment for viral encephalitis, a condition that causes swelling in the brain.
His funeral took place yesterday, December 8, on what would have been Sinead O'Connor's 57th birthday.
Johnny Depp says goodbye to his friend Shane McGowan at the funeral
MacGowan, (pictured) who died last week after a battle with pneumonia, is best known for the Christmas classic The Fairytale of New York
The service at Saint Mary of the Rosary Church in Nenagh, Co Tipperary, was well attended by celebrities including Nick Cave, Bob Geldof and Depp.
Depp was joined by Hothouse Flowers frontman Liam O'Maonlai as they read the prayers of the faithful during the service.
The star of the Pirates Of The Caribbean series previously attended MacGowan's wedding to Victoria Mary Clarke.
MacGowan's coffin was brought to the front of the church, draped in an Irish tricolor flag and placed close to a large black and white photo of the Pogues singer.
In an emotional scene, Depp was seen knocking on the coffin to say goodbye to his old friend.
Johnny Depp is pictured giving a lecture at MacGowan's funeral on Friday afternoon
Johnny Depp read the prayers of the faithful during the service in honor of the Pogues icon
Shane MacGowan's widow says the singer urged Johnny Depp to forgive his ex-wife Amber Heard (pictured)
Depp, who previously attended MacGowan's wedding to Victoria Mary Clarke, was pictured in the crowd next to the coffin
Hollywood star Johnny Depp arrives at Shane MacGowan's funeral on Friday afternoon
Later, a group of men, including Depp, helped carry MacGowan's coffin from the service to loud applause.
Ms Clarke presented symbols of her late husband at the funeral mass, including a copy of an album by Johnny Depp who she called a “huge fan” of The Pogues frontman.
She also said her late husband “wouldn't hold a grudge against anyone” as she addressed 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 'urged' him to forgive Heard.
Nick Cave, a friend of MacGowan, performed at the Irish Pogues star's funeral
Paying tribute to him at his funeral, she said his death “took us all by surprise” – because everyone “thought he was coming home”.
Former Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams gave an opening speech at the funeral, praising MacGowan's “genius” and saying his music would live on “forever”. His words were greeted with applause and cheers from those present
MacGowan's coffin will be brought into the church ahead of yesterday's funeral service after the singer died at home last week
The church in Co Tipperary was packed with mourners after MacGowan's coffin made the 90 mile journey from Dublin
Mrs. 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 they, and he urged you to forgive Amber? .
“He just thought it was the best thing to do because he truly believed in forgiveness.
'And I'm sure you have by now – of course you have! Of course you did!'
Amber Heard was embroiled in a series of blistering lawsuits that she and Depp fought after their 15-month marriage fell apart in a morass of back-and-forth abuse allegations.
Depp and his ex-wife eventually settled their defamation claims against each other in December, after five years of intense legal battles.
Mrs Clarke was pictured in tears as she grieved before the coffin was brought into the church.
A photo of the late Irish singer Shane MacGowan is shown on the day of his funeral procession in Tipperary, Ireland
It came days after MacGowan returned home after being discharged from hospital amid a battle with a brain condition, with his wife Victoria sharing a photo of him in his hospital bed.
Tributes poured in from all over the world to honor the Irish music legend
In tribute, she said his death “took us all by surprise” – because everyone “thought he was coming home.”
More than 30,000 people lined the streets and the service was standing room only. Police closed off large parts of south Dublin so crowds could pay their respects to the star as his coffin was wheeled through the city.
Former Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams gave an opening speech at the funeral, praising MacGowan's “genius” and saying his music would live on “forever”. His words were greeted with applause and cheers from those present.
Shane started his journey by horse-drawn carriage from South Lotts Road and traveled down Pearse Street to Westland Row, giving fans who loved him dearly the chance to say a final goodbye.
Mourners applauded as the funeral procession passed Dublin's McMahon Bridge, as the sounds of Fairytale of New York and A Rainy Night in Soho blared from a loudspeaker in honor of the fallen musician.
The crowd threw flowers and musicians played A Pair Of Brown Eyes as the funeral procession passed Sweny's pharmacy in central Dublin, which featured in James Joyce's Ulysses.
Outside Sweny's pharmacy in central Dublin, a group of musicians led mourners in a tearful rendition of Pogues' Christmas classic, Fairytale Of New York.
Mourners, many of whom held photographs of Shane MacGowan, sang Dirty Old Town through the streets of Dublin after his funeral procession.
At one point the funeral procession stopped on Westland Row while the Artane Band played its hit Christmas song Fairytale of New York.