Stephen Gately’s partner was questioned by a judge yesterday about events leading up to the Boyzone singer’s death after a post-mortem examination found that he died from natural causes.

Gately suffered acute pulmonary oedema — a build-up of bodily fluids in the lungs that often occurs as the result of heart failure. Tissue samples have been sent to Barcelona for tests to see if drugs or alcohol were a factor.

Andrew Cowles, Gately’s civil partner, was asked to recall the couple’s visit to a gay nightclub on Friday. The singer was found dead on Saturday afternoon on a sofa in their Majorca apartment.

During two hours of questioning by Judge Maria del Carmen Abrines Martíat at the Court of Instruction in Palma, the internet entrepreneur, 32, was asked if Gately, 33, had a history of heart problems or had felt unwell. The judge will also question Georgi Dochev, 25, who found the singer and was with the couple at the club in Palma.

Gately’s body was transferred to a funeral parlour in Calvià, near his home in Andratx, yesterday afternoon to be prepared for the flight to Dublin. It is understood that the Gately family is making arrangements for a funeral in the city on Saturday. The star was born and bred in the Sheriff Street area of the north inner city and his funeral is being planned for St Laurence O’Toole’s Church.

A police source said that the post-mortem examination showed that Gately had vomited, but a court official stressed that this had not contributed to his death. The official said: “The autopsy found that the death was because of natural causes. There were no signs of violence. It was not from vomiting; it is nothing to do with alcohol.”

The family welcomed the post-mortem findings, said Gerald Kean, the family lawyer.

He said: “The family are pleased that the post-mortem has been completed. They are pleased that the results indicate what they said all along: that Stephen died as a result of natural causes.The family’s only wish is to get their son and brother home as soon as possible.”

He said that the family were “absolutely happy that there is no foul play” and were sure that no drugs were involved.

The singer’s bandmates had hoped to return to Dublin with his body but Ronan Keating, Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham and Shane Lynch returned home on Monday night. A band spokesman said: “They went there to pay their respects and start dealing with the fallout of the situation. However, it’s clear that them being there at the moment is bringing a lot more attention to the situation.”

Last night Gately’s older sister Michelle visited the singer’s body with Mr Cowles.

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