Michelle Dockery’s Fiancé John Dineen Dies Of Cancer At 34

Downton Abbey star Michelle Dockery‘s fiancé John Dineen has died after a battle with a rare form of cancer. He was 34.

Michelle Dockery’s Fiancé Dies

Dineen died at the Marymount Hospice in Cork Sunday, two days before Dockery’s birthday, People confirmed. Dockery, who had been in the U.S. up until recently on a promotional tour for the final season of Downton Abbey, had flown home to be at his bedside as his health worsened.

“The family is very grateful for the support and kindness they have received,” read a statement from Dockery’s spokesperson. “But would kindly request that they are left to grieve in private.”

Dineen, a senior director at FTI consulting in London, had returned to Ireland after receiving his cancer diagnosis earlier this year. In the succeeding months, he received various treatments in Ireland, and even sought out pioneering treatment options in Germany before once again returning to Cork, where he ultimately died, reported the Irish Independent.

Dockery and Dineen first began dating in September 2013 following an introduction by Dockery’s Downton costar Allen Leech. Though the British actress has remained tight-lipped about her private life, she did briefly talk about the relationship in 2014.

“I have a wonderful man in my life from Ireland. We were introduced by Allen Leech. That’s all you need to know,” she’d said, according to the Daily Mail.

Dockery once again referred to Dineen in an interview published this month in Red Magazine. “I’ve got people around me who I can turn to for advice,” she said, listing, “my mum, and my partner, John.”

Dineen’s funeral will take place in Cork Wednesday.