KERRY Katona is ‘devastated’ after splitting with her fiance of six years who was ‘like a dad’ to her youngest kids.
The Sun first spotted that Kerry, 44, and Ryan Mahoney, 36, had separated this month – and days later the former Atomic Kitten, 44, confirmed the news.
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While any breakup is difficult, Kerry is finding it particularly hard due to the close bond he’d built with her children Molly, 21, Lilly-Sue, 20, Heidi, 16, Max, 14, and eight-year-old DJ.
A source told us: “Kerry’s kids are really devastated about Ryan moving out – it’s hit them really hard.
“He was like a dad to them because he has been in their lives for such a long time.
“Kerry hates seeing them upset, it makes her sick to her stomach so she is doing everything in her power to make sure she is constantly checking up on them.
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“It’s been really hard explaining to them all why she and Ryan have separated, but she is trying to be strong for them and is putting her own heartache to one side to ensure the kids are supported.
“They are her top priority in all of this.”
Writing in her OK! Magazine column yesterday, Kerry said: “Last week I spoke about how Ryan and I were having a tough time and now he has moved out of the house.
“We are no longer together and It’s been a really tough week – I never in a million years thought this would happen. Without going into too much detail, there has been a breach of trust between us.”
She continued: “I don’t know if we’ll be able to work it out or not, but I do still love him so much. I feel like everything has heaped on recently and it’s so much to deal with, I am really struggling.
“But I know I can get through it no matter what happens, I’ve been through break-ups before and come out the other side, so we just need to see what happens.”
She added that her friends have rallied round to support her, including her best pal who stayed over at her house.
Kerry got engaged to fitness instructor Ryan four years ago while they were on holiday in Spain.
The mum-of-five opened up about plans to marry Ryan, but later revealed she felt “unsupported” by her younger fiancé.
She said her eldest daughters Lilly-Sue and Molly – who she shares with ex-husband Brian McFadden – insisted they wanted to be there, and so their planned Las Vegas wedding was off.
Their breakup comes as Kerry continues to care for her sick mum Sue, who was recently rushed to hospital with clots.
Previously talking about her mum’s condition, she said: “I’ve had a very challenging week visiting my mum in hospital every day.
“She’s suffering from blood clots and other health issues and I’ve cancelled all of my work to focus on looking after her. It’s been an emotional week.”
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