It has been announced that Mark Sheehan, guitarist with The Script, has died in hospital after a brief illness. He was 46.
A statement on the band's social media pages said: "Much loved husband, father, brother, band mate and friend Mark Sheehan passed away today in hospital after a brief illness.
"The family and group ask fans to respect their privacy at this tragic time."
The Script was formed in Dublin in 2001 and they've sold over 20 million albums, scoring huge hits with the likes of The Man Who Can’t Be Moved, For The First Time, We Cry and Hall of Fame.
Paying tribute to Sheehan, who was a father of four, fellow Irish rock band Kodaline said in a statement posted to Twitter: "So sorry to hear the passing of Mark Sheehan.
"We had the great fortune of getting to spend time in his company over the years and was always such a lovely man. Deepest condolences to his family and his @thescript brothers."
Other celebrities were also quick to honour his memory on social media.
In statement posted on Instagram, Irish presenter Laura Whitmore wrote: "Thinking of you all at this time.
"Mark was one of the nicest and most talented men you could meet."
In their own Instagram tribute, Irish pop duo Jedward said: "Everyone in the Irish music industry and worldwide mourn your loss RIP Mark such a talented musician from The Script one of the most iconic Irish groups of our generation."
Sheehan and The Script frontman Danny O'Donoghue have been friends since they were teenagers and began their musical careers in the mid-90s pop group My Town.
After the demise of the band, the two lads headed to Los Angeles to learn production, recording and how the music industry works.
They were joined by fellow Dubliner Glen Power on drums when they formed The Script in 2001. The band moved to London, releasing their eponymous debut album in 2008 on Sony Records.
The album peaked at number one in both Ireland and the UK and it wasn't long before The Script were wracking up hits around the world.
Their next three albums, Science & Faith (2010), #3 (2012) and No Sound Without Silence (2014), all topped the album charts in Ireland and the UK, while Science & Faith reached number two in Australia and number three in the United States.
The band's fifth studio album, Freedom Child, was released in 2017 and features the UK Top 20 single Rain.
Their sixth studio album, Sunsets & Full Moons, was released in November 2019 and features the single The Last Time.
A Greatest Hits album was released on 1 October 2021.
In May 2022, Danny O'Donoghue told the Sunday World that Sheehan had missed the American leg of The Script's greatest hits tour to be with his family.
"It’s his story to tell, but yeah, I guess if I could paraphrase, his children needed a father and his wife needed a husband," O’Donoghue said.
"He’s been the engine of The Script for such a long time, [I told him] that 'if you want to take a bit of time out for your family you are more than welcome to, and I insist on you going and doing it’.
"He took a little bit of time off. You get refreshed, then you come back with a new zest for life. And I believe it was the best thing that could have happened for all of us."
The Script are scheduled to support the American artist P!nk during her European tour later this year.
