John Dineen: Downton Abbey’s Michelle Dockery devastated after fiancé dies, aged 34

Downton Abbey’s Michelle Dockery has been left devastated after her fiancé John Dineen died on Sunday morning.

Dineen, 34, died in Cork’s Marymount Hospital after an illness, the Irish Examiner reported. It is unclear what he had been diagnosed with.

The funeral is expected to take place in Cork on Wednesday, December 16.

A spokesperson told the Standard Online: "The family is very grateful for the support and kindness they have received but would kindly request that they are left to grieve in private."

Dragons' Den investor Gavin Duffy paid tribute, tweeting: "Michelle Dockery Lady Mary, young widow #Downton has confirmed her real life fiancé Corkman John Dineen has died RIP."

Dockery, who plays Lady Mary Crawley in the ITV period drama, started dating Dineen in September 2013 after being introduced by her Downton Abbey co-star Allen Leech.

The actress is staunchly private with matters concerning her personal life but did open up about the couple’s relationship in September 2014, saying: “I have a wonderful man in my life from Ireland. We were introduced by Allen Leech. That’s all you need to know.”

Dineen worked as a Senior Director in FTI Consulting in London.