The Press Complaints Commission (PCC) has rejected a complaint over a controversial newspaper column about the death of Boyzone singer Stephen Gately.

The Daily Mail article, written by journalist Jan Moir, claimed Gately's death was not “natural” and described events leading up to it as “less than respectable”.

It attracted a record 25,000 public complaints, including a formal objection from the singer's civil partner, Andrew Cowles, who claimed it had broken the press code of conduct.

However, in its ruling the PCC said that, although it was “uncomfortable” with the tenor Moir's remarks, censuring her would signal “a slide towards censorship”.

"Argument and debate are working parts of an active society and should not be constrained unnecessarily,” the PCC said.

The ruling also said Moir's claim that Gately's death was not natural "could not be established as accurate or otherwise".

The Boyzone star died of natural causes at his holiday home in Majorca last October.

(by Jason Gregory)