Shane Filan’s loyal wife has told how their marriage is now stronger after sticking together when he lost everything.
The Westlife star was made bankrupt after winding up with debts of €23 million when his property business collapsed.
But Gillian told Goss.ie that she never considered leaving his side through the emotional hell – which saw them even lose their prized home.
Speaking for the first time, the 35-year-old said: “Everything you take on in a marriage is together. If its decisions that affect you, we did it together.
Loss: Shane was declared bankrupt as Westlife played final gigs | VIPIRELAND.COM
“I said to Shane sometimes I can’t believe we came out stronger at the end of this. But somehow we did. That to me makes me happy. We went through something as a couple that strengthened our relationship.
“Sometimes you don’t have a choice. We have three children and we have good friends and family so you don’t have a choice.”
The Sligo couple were forced to sell their beloved home as part of their bankruptcy – with the €10 million property they designed going for for just €800,000.
And Gillian admits that was extremely difficult to lose after spending so much on making their dream property come to life.
Gone: Shane and Gillian had to say goodbye to their dream home
But Gillian told Goss.ie that despite this, you have to care about each other first.
She said: “It was definitely tough. For years and years and years, even in the early years of our relationship the plans for that house, where all I ever heard about they were all I ever saw.
“It’s a materialistic object, it means nothing, it doesn’t define you, you move on and that’s it. It was very difficult.
“But I mean if you have your health and you husband, you can’t focus on something like that.
“If you were to put them both in front of you, your house or your health and your kids, you would pick that one and it was an easy decision for me.”
Launch: Shane has told everything in his new autobiography | VIPIRELAND.COM
Now Shane has told all in his new autobiography – My Side Of Life – and Gillian hopes it helps people going through similar problems.
She told Goss.ie: “I know Shane and if anything he’s honest. It’s important he tells the truth so that he doesn’t have to cover something up. He told it exactly like it happened.
“It was uncomfortable reading. There were tears, there definitely was. Coming to the end, it was difficult to read a couple of the chapters.
“It’s Mental Health Awareness Week. Obviously there’s many aspects of mental health, when you are under financial pressure, its very hard and you need to be able to process that and deal with that and for someone to keep that inside.
“The only way Shane did was to talk about it. Making sure what we knew as a family and making decisions together and not letting him be a burden on himself.”
