Mark Sheehan, a guitarist and co-founder of The Script, has died at the age of 46, the band has announced.

The musician died in hospital after a brief illness, according to a statement from the Irish rock band.

“Much loved husband, father, brother, band mate and friend Mark Sheehan passed away today in hospital after a brief illness,” the group Tweeted.

“The family and group ask fans to respect their privacy at this tragic time.”

The Script were founded in Dublin in 2001 with Sheehan on guitar, his childhood friend Danny O’Donoghue as the lead singer, and Glen Power on drums.

Sheehan and O’Donoghue, who had known each other since they were both 13, had initially left Dublin for Los Angeles to pursue careers in music.

While in the US, the pair worked in songwriting and producing, before returning to Ireland where they recruited Power to the band.

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Their first album, named The Script, peaked at number one in both the UK and Ireland in 2008, with debut single We Cry charting at 15 in the UK.

Another song from the album, The Man Who Can’t Be Moved, reached number two in the singles charts.

The band’s follow-up album, Science and Faith, was released in 2010 and also hit number one in the UK and Ireland and number three in the US.

Their third album, named #3, released in 2012, also topped the charts in Ireland and peaked at number two in the UK.

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Three more albums followed, No Sound Without Silence, Freedom Child, and Sunsets & Full Moons, all of which reached number one in the album charts in the UK and Ireland.

They have sold more than 20 million albums worldwide, while their music has featured on a number of popular TV shows, including EastEnders, Made in Chelsea and the US comedy-drama 90210.

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