Sexy texter Ronan Keating

May 22, 2010, 12:02 GMT

Ronan Keating's wife allegedly found flirty text messages on a secret mobile phone hidden in a bag.

Yvonne - who has been married to the Boyzone star for 12 years - confronted the singer about the secret phone, leading to a confession of an affair with dancer Francine Cornell.

A source told the Sun newspaper: "Yvonne confronted Ronan with a phone - there was nothing he could say.

"She ordered him to leave the family home and told him the marriage was over. She'd heard whispers and rumours about him cheating with Francine during the tour. The dancing on stage was very raunchy, but she'd got used to that over the years and trusted him.

"When she saw the texts on the secret phone she was devastated. She realised he'd been lying. The bottom just fell out of her world. Ronan could only admit what had happened and take it. They agreed to put out a joint statement about their separation."

The pair have three children -Jack, 11, Marie, nine and Ali, four - and announced in the statement earlier this week their split would be "amicable".

Friends of Ronan's have revealed their shock of the split - Andrew Coles, the widower of Ronan's bandmate Stephen Gately, said he had seen no cracks in their relationship.

He told BANG Showbiz: "I didn't see any signs that they would break up. I sent them both lovely messages, as they're both friends, and it's sad because they were a great couple."