Cat Deeley missed her mother-in-law’s funeral so she could support her two young sons as they grieved the loss of their grandmother, MailOnline can reveal.
The 48-year-old This Morning presenter was absent on Monday when her husband, Patrick Kielty, 54, attended the funeral of his late mother, Mary, in County Down.
Patrick appeared devastated as he carried Mary’s coffin through his home village, accompanied by relatives and close friends at the Church of the Sacred Heart.
Cat, who has been married to Patrick for 12 years, remained in London and hosted Monday’s edition of This Morning alongside Ben Shephard, 50.
Although fellow presenters including Alison Hammond, Josie Gibson and Rochelle Humes were available to cover the programme, Cat is also scheduled to front Tuesday morning’s show.
A representative for Cat told MailOnline that she stayed away from the service so she could be with her sons, Milo, eight, and James, five, before and after school on the day of their grandmother’s funeral.
Cat Deeley missed her mother-in-law’s funeral to support her grieving sons, MailOnline can reveal, after presenting This Morning on Monday
Patrick, 54, looked heartbroken as he carried Mary’s coffin through his home village, accompanied by family and friends at the Church of the Sacred Heart
Mary, the Irish presenter’s mother, was in her 80s when she died at her home in Dundrum on Saturday; she is pictured with Patrick in 2012
The spokesperson said: “Cat remained at home to be there for her two young children before and after school on this very sad day.”
Mary, who was in her 80s, died at her home in the village of Dundrum on Saturday.
A death notice said she “will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her entire family circle, neighbours and friends.”
Patrick wore a dark grey suit and white tie as he laid his mother to rest alongside his brothers, John and Cahal, with dozens of mourners gathering to pay their respects.
The television star has spoken warmly about his mother over the years. In an interview with The Irish Sun in 2023, he said Mary was “secretly delighted” when he was selected to host The Late Late Show.
“Mary Kielty is secretly delighted but not making any real public statements,” he said.
“I mean talking to people at mass, which is kind of a public statement in Dundrum.
“‘Well now, what about that son of yours, I’m sure you’re very proud,’ to which Mary Kielty would say, ‘Well now, I’ve got three sons, so which one are you talking about?’”
Patrick looked heartbroken as he carried his mother Mary’s coffin to the Church of the Sacred Heart in his Northern Irish hometown
Mary’s death notice said she “will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her entire family circle, neighbours and friends”
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Patrick wore a dark grey suit and white tie as he buried his mother alongside his brothers John and Cahal, with dozens of mourners in attendance
His wife, Cat Deeley, did not appear to attend the service after presenting This Morning earlier that day
Although Alison Hammond, Josie Gibson and Rochelle Humes were available to step in, Cat is also expected to host Tuesday morning’s programme
Patrick’s childhood was marked by tragedy after his father was shot dead by Protestant paramilitaries during the Troubles when Patrick was 16.
He revisited the killing in a 2023 television documentary, describing his mother’s strength. “My dad was a brave man, but it was my mum who wanted to protect us,” he said.
“She’s the one who raised the family and kept us together. She was 46 when he died and she never remarried.”
The comedian has recalled being summoned to his school headmaster’s office and told that his father, Jack, had been killed by Loyalist gunmen.
Speaking for a BBC programme marking the 20th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, Patrick discussed the lasting impact of the murder.
The Loyalist assassins had opened fire on Jack’s business in Dundrum, County Down, at the height of the Troubles.
The attack was a case of mistaken identity. The gunmen believed Jack was an IRA officer, an allegation rejected at the time by the Royal Ulster Constabulary and members of the family.
Recalling the moment he learned of his father’s death, Patrick said: “It was the very first Red Nose Day and I had put posters up all around the school.
“When I was called to the headmaster’s office, I thought I was going to be told off because I’d covered the entire school with them. Then I reached his office and one of my dad’s business colleagues was there. That’s when I knew something was terribly wrong.
Patrick has regularly spoken with affection about his mother, telling The Irish Sun in 2023 that she was “secretly delighted” when he became host of The Late Late Show
Patrick was 16 when his father was killed by Protestant paramilitaries who mistakenly believed he was an IRA leader
Patrick was six days short of his 17th birthday when he buried his father and acted as a pallbearer
“I remember thinking, ‘I need to get home. How’s my mum? Where is everybody else?’ At the time, you don’t realise that you’re in shock.”
Patrick was just six days away from turning 17 when he buried his father and served as a pallbearer at the funeral.
“Growing up in Northern Ireland, you had fewer of those conversations because so many people understood what you were going through,” he said. “There was never anger.
“It was about looking after Mum and the family coming together. The moment you become angry, someone else has won.”
