Docs told me Shane had 6 months to live... 40yrs ago

Pogues legend's wife 'still talks to him'

- BY SANDRA MALLON Showbiz Editor

SHANE MacGowan's widow has told how doctors told The Pogues frontman he would die within six months of the pair getting together - back in the 1980s.

Victoria Mary Clarke and Shane met over 40 years ago before tying the knot in Copenhagen in 2018.

But Victoria was dealt a devastating blow when the Tipperary star passed away in November 2023 at the age of 65 after multiple health complications.

However, she admitted she had been preparing since the 80s for his death after many doctors gave the rock star only months to live, even back then.

Speaking on The Grief Pod with Venetia Quick, Victoria said: "It was quite often that he would be told he would be dead soon. And that started when we got together.

"So starting in the 80s, people told me he'd be dead very soon.

TOGETHER

"I remember, like, pretty much as soon as we got together, somebody said, 'Oh, well, he'll be dead in six months'.

"A doctor that we used to go to in London, she told Shane that he would be dead in six months, and she is now dead herself.

"Well, in fact, two of his doctors are dead, having told Shane that he would be dead. So, you know, it was definitely on my mind a lot, and it was some-thing that I was afraid of very much.

"And when I thought about it, I couldn't picture anything but misery. I couldn't picture anything but total despair."

Shane died in November 2023 and Victoria opened up about how she has coped with the grief since The Fairytale of New York hitmaker's passing.

"There's been plenty of days like that, where I've been phoning the Samaritans and I have fully felt that I wanted to end it all," she explained.