The couple's marriage suffered following his reported alliance with dancer Francine Cornell on a Boyzone tour in the summer of 2009 and although they appeared to work things out, friends say the damage was irreparable. "They broke up in November and that was that.

There was no going back. But the friendship and the love will always be there.

Neither of them wanted this to happen. Their lives will be forever entwined; it is just that they are no longer together.

The damage to Ronan and Yvonne's relationship was never repaired despite many attempts. They nearly sorted it out last year but it just didn't last.

God knows, they don't want this situation but they are thinking of what is best for their kids," a source said. "They told their children a while ago before it got into the newspapers.

They are all very strong as a family. It's heartbreaking for them.

It has been nearly two years but they really tried to make their marriage work again. Sometimes when it is broken, it is broken and it can't be fixed.

Without going into the nitty gritty, they just couldn't pick up the pieces," the source added. Keating and 37-year-old Yvonne married in a private ceremony in 1998, on the Caribbean isle of Nevis, shortly after the death of his beloved mother Marie from cancer and although they have split, their relationship has remained amicable.

"There was just too much broken. They still go out together for dinner and are still a family.

It is just they are not in a marriage any more. They are still good friends.

It is just that their marriage is over. It is devastating for them.

They have been together since they were young adults and thought they would be spending the rest of their lives together. It just wasn't to be," the source said.

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