For the first time, Ronan Keating’s former mistress has opened up about their passionate relationship — sharing how the Boyzone singer would cry as he declared his love for her repeatedly.
Dancer Francine Cornell, aged 28, revealed that during their year-long affair, Ronan’s heart was distressed as he struggled with the decision of whether or not to leave his wife Yvonne and their three children for her.
However, she insisted that she did not cause the couple’s marriage to fall apart, asserting that Ronan and Yvonne were already growing distant.
Moreover, she emphasized that it was Ronan who took the initiative in their relationship, frequently expressing his need for her, saying, ‘I need you. I can’t not have you in my life’ — and charming her with suggestions of a future marriage.
Francine declared last night: “I have always been portrayed as the scarlet woman who destroyed a perfect marriage. This could not be more inaccurate. The marriage was facing issues long before either Ronan or his wife knew my identity.”
In 2009, Ronan, 35, met the striking blonde when she was recruited as one of eight dancers for Boyzone’s six-week tour across the UK and Ireland.
She was taken aback when he unexpectedly confessed during a soundcheck that he had fallen for her.
Their romance eventually led to Ronan and Yvonne’s separation in 2010, followed by an announcement last April regarding their impending divorce after 14 years of marriage.
At the time, Francine was residing in Chelsea, West London, with her boyfriend Nick Robbins when she landed the Boyzone opportunity, realizing a dream she’d always had.
She shared, “Getting to go on a big arena tour was incredible. I had climbed the ladder and finally reached my goal. A few days into rehearsals, the guys came over to greet me. They were truly friendly, and I remember thinking they acted like schoolboys…always playing around.”
Francine continued, “Ronan was wonderful. After a while, I noticed he kept looking at me, which made me think, ‘Am I doing something wrong?’ I was secretly anxious. One day, towards the end of the tour, he approached me during a soundcheck and apologized, saying, ‘I’m really sorry I keep staring at you; I can’t help it’.
“Every girl would find that flattering, but it did make me somewhat uneasy. Then one evening after a show in Newcastle, everyone from the tour gathered at the hotel bar.
“Until that night, I hadn’t really had a proper conversation with Ronan since he can be quite reserved. As people gradually left, we ended up having a one-on-one conversation. We learned more about each other…it felt like we were on the same wavelength. The connection was incredibly easy and natural.”
Francine added, “Not much transpired on the tour, although we did share a kiss. One night, we stayed up talking and enjoying a packet of Monster Munch (pommie chips/crisps) together. It was during our chat that I recognized my current relationship wasn’t right, as I found myself feeling more for someone else than for my boyfriend.”
“Yet when we parted ways from the tour in June, neither of us had exchanged numbers. I thought, ‘Well, that’s it — back to our real lives’.”
Contrarily, their relationship was about to evolve into something much deeper.
Francine recounted, “A couple of days later, I received a phone call from Ronan. He had acquired my number through his bandmate Stephen Gately.
“Ronan said, ‘I needed to talk to you; I miss you. I want to see you. I’ll be in London next week, will you come and see me?’ I felt relieved to hear from him. I met up with him, and that was it. It felt so wonderful to reunite. We truly…
“We kept missing each other.”
The couple embarked on a secret relationship, rendezvousing in hotels during Ronan’s frequent trips from Ireland to the UK. However, after each of these meetings, he would return home to his family.
Francine, who later broke up with her boyfriend Nick, acknowledged Ronan’s need to go back home.
She mentioned: “I repeatedly told him, ‘You need to return to your wife and children. If it’s not working out for you, come and find me’.
“He made me think that his connection with Yvonne was more of a platonic nature than anything serious. Although he loved her as the mother of his kids, he wasn’t in love with her. Their life on the road had caused them to lead separate lives. While it doesn’t excuse my actions, that was the situation he was facing.
“At times, Ronan and I would mutually agree to end things and never speak again.
“Then he would call me in tears, saying, ‘I can’t do this anymore, I need you, I need you. I can’t imagine my life without you’. I would respond, ‘No, you need to go back and make it work’.
“He was definitely the one pursuing me. I made the mistake of falling for it and lacked the strength to step away.”
Stephen Gately became a close friend to Francine, meeting her for coffee and discussing Ronan. His passing at the age of 33 in October 2009 drew Ronan and Francine closer together.
Francine shared: “Ronan took the news very hard, as he was already emotionally struggling.
“His life was in disarray. He and Yvonne had drifted apart, making him need me more than ever.”
Francine feels that Ronan had concerns about the potential impact that the revelation of their affair might have on his career.
“Ronan was always anxious about how others perceived him given his pristine public image,” she stated. “As a Catholic man, leaving his wife would be the worst thing possible, and everyone would judge him. Naturally, we couldn’t walk down the street together holding hands. We once went out for dinner, and I would try to catch his solo tour whenever I could.
“One of our most memorable experiences was taking separate taxis to Hyde Park in the middle of the night for a walk — both of us donning hats to remain incognito.
“I never asked Ronan to leave Yvonne; it was always him who brought it up. He would say, ‘It’s you I love, you’re the one I want to be with. I care for Yvonne as she’s the mother of my kids, but I’m in love with you. However, I can’t do this to my children.’ Once I inquired, ‘Do you think I’ll still see your name on my phone in 20 years’? He confidently replied, ‘In 20 years, we will be married’. At that moment, it felt nice, and I believe he meant it.”
When Yvonne found out about the affair, she reportedly kicked Ronan out of their $5 million home in Ireland, where they lived with their children: Jack, 13, Missy, 11, and seven-year-old Ali.
Francine recounted: “She was outraged and reacted as any woman would.”
After attempts to repair his marriage fell short, Ronan spent time in Australia, where he has now developed a relationship with 30-year-old TV producer Storm Uechtritz.
Recently, Ronan discussed his infidelity on television, stating in an interview with Piers Morgan: “I was wrong.
“I made a decision that had devastating consequences for people’s lives.”
New partner Storm expressed her admiration following the interview: “The rest of the world finally got a real glimpse of the incredible man I know — genuine, kind, loving, and trustworthy.” Conversely, Francine, who is relocating to Canada for work after her career endured setbacks due to these events, struggles to move forward.
She remarked: “Ronan and Yvonne have managed to move on and find peace. I wish I could do the same, but I’ve never received closure.
“A part of me wishes that I could have experienced that — that such a resolution could have occurred then. However, times have changed, and I genuinely wish him well.”
