Tragic true story behind Fairytale of New York singers: How Kirsty MacColl was killed in speedboat accident days before Christmas – while The Pogues’ Shane MacGowan battled alcoholism and eight-year brain condition

Fairytale of New York may be one of the great festive songs, but the heartbreaking story behind the song means it will forever be associated not just with Christmas, but with tragedy.

Singer Kirsty MacColl, who duetted with Shane MacGowan in the party hit, died in 2000 aged 41 after a horrific boating accident while diving in Mexico with her two sons.

Her death came just seconds after she heroically saved the life of her son Jamie, who was 15. Her other son Louis, 13, also witnessed the tragedy but survived, as did MacColl’s musician friend James Knight.

As her close friend, MacGowan was among those devastated by her untimely death, with the Pogues frontman later admitting he felt depressed singing the tune in later years.

MacGowan himself died today at the age of 65 after an eight-year battle with a brain condition, prompting an outpouring of tributes from fellow celebrities and his millions of fans.

The punk icon had previously lost his mother in shocking circumstances when she died after her car crashed into a wall on New Year’s Day 2017. Therese MacGowan, 87, was driving alone and her death was treated as an accident.

The song was released in 1988 and has become one of the great Christmas carols. But it hides a darker story

MacColl and MacGowan pose with toy guns and an inflatable Santa Claus in 1987 for their hit Fairytale of New York

Before his death today, Shane spent months in intensive care after being diagnosed with viral encephalitis last year, with his wife Victoria Mary Clarke sharing regular updates on his condition with fans on social media.

The singer was diagnosed with the disease late last year and is said to have been exacerbated by shingles that spread to the eyes.

Tragically, this was just the latest in a long list of medical mishaps the Celtic band star has suffered over the years.

In 2016 he fell while dancing and broke his pelvis. Since then he has had to use a wheelchair or a Zimmerframe.

Another fall left him with a broken right knee and torn ligaments around his left knee.

The series of falls has left his wife as his caregiver and the singer previously said he does not expect to walk again.

Earlier in his life, the singer overcame a heroin addiction, a rapid fall from a car and numerous drunken fights.

Shane’s wife Victoria Mary Clarke shared the news of his death in a post on Instagram today. I don’t know how to say this so I’m just going to say it,” she wrote.

MacGowan has been in intensive care for months after being diagnosed with viral encephalitis last year

The English singer died in 2000 at the age of 41 after a horrific boating accident while diving in Mexico with her two sons

MacGowan (centre) lying in his hospital bed in a photo shared by his wife Victoria

‘Shane who will always be the light that I hold before me and the benchmark of my dreams and the love of my life and the most beautiful soul and beautiful angel and the sun and the moon and the beginning and end of all that is dear to me is to live with Jesus and Mary and his beautiful mother Therese.

“I am incredibly blessed to have met him and to have loved him and to have been loved so endlessly and unconditionally by him and to have had so many years of life and love and joy and fun and laughter and so many adventures.”

In a touching tribute, MacGowan’s sister Siobhan shared the lyrics of the Pogues’ song, The Broad Majestic Shannon, in honor of her brother.

As she went to X, she wrote, “So I walked as the day broke; while little birds sang and leaves fell, where once we saw the rowboats land on the Broad Majestic Shannon,’

A statement from MacGowan’s spokesperson confirmed that he “died peacefully at 3.30am this morning, with his wife and sister by his side”.

“Prayers and the last rites were read during his death,” he added.

MacGowan’s mother, Therese, (left) was killed in a car crash on New Year’s Day 2017. They are pictured with Shane’s father, Maurice.

Mrs MacGowan, pictured with her son at a charity event in 2007, was a singer and traditional Irish dancer, and had worked as a model in Dublin