Shane MacGowan dies aged 65

Shane MacGowan, the Pogues frontman, has died aged 65 a week after being discharged from hospital. The Irish singer, who was born on Christmas Day and was best known for his punk band’s festive 1987 hit, Fairytale of New York, had suffered from several health issues in recent years. His wife, Victoria Mary Clarke, said: “Shane will always be the light that I hold before me and the measure 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 start and end of everything that I hold dear has gone to be with Jesus and Mary and his beautiful mother Therese.” Read the best of our journalism: Subscribe to The Times and The Sunday Times YouTube channel: Find us on Facebook: Find us on Twitter: Find us on Instagram: