Una Healy’s boyfriend says he couldn’t settle in Ireland amid reports they have split

Aidan, who has more than 1,200 wins under his belt, was considered one of the top jockeys in the industry before he suffered a bad fall

Saturdays star Una and retired Irish jockey Aidan at The Irish Post Irish Book Awards in November 2024

Neil Fetherstonhaugh

Una Healy’s boyfriend, retired jockey Aidan Coleman, has moved back to England amid reports that the couple have split up.

Just months after they went public with their romance at the Irish Post awards last November, it has been reported that Una and Aidan have gone their separate ways.

Rumours of a romance between the pair started swirling last August when the couple enjoyed a holiday together.

Then, in September, they were spotted attending a wedding together in Thurles. Later that month they were pictured out with friends in Dublin.

Aidan, who has more than 1,200 wins under his belt, was considered one of the top jockeys in the industry before he suffered a bad fall that shattered his tibia which meant he could never ride professionally again.

The Cork-born rider has spoken of his struggles to settle down after his early retirement, telling the Thoroughbred Daily News: “I am not a great sleeper at the best of times, but I am very worried about the fact that I moved back to Ireland six months ago but just couldn’t settle here.

“My bags are packed, and I am going back to the UK today — a place where I have spent half of my life but I am worried that this move is not the answer, either. I hope it is.”

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Announcing his retirement on live TV, Coleman had previously revealed how the prognosis “was quite bleak about returning to ride”.

"Around September I was kidding myself that I could get back from this, then around Christmas I had another operation and the progress has really plateaued.

"I can do the gym, but I can't run or jump. I can't ride a horse really.

"A lot of people would say I couldn't anyway, so what's the difference, but every time I've tried to ride a horse since Christmas it's not gone well."

Speaking to Thoroughbred Daily News, Aiden said: "There are so many people who are worse off than me.

"I keep telling myself that. But that's them and this is me. I have been very good at compartmentalising things my whole career but sometimes it is quite difficult.

"I meet a lot of people when I am out and about and they ask me what I am doing with myself. My answer to them is that I don't know. It's very hard for people to help me when I don't know what I want to do myself. If I knew what I wanted to do I would go and do it.

"But I just don't have a clue. And that's hard.

"On the darker days, when I am going down that steep slope, I have to tell myself, 'wait a minute, stop. It could be so much worse.' It's on those days when you think about how some other people have been far less fortunate than me.

"I did what I dreamed of doing. I just wouldn't have minded having a little bit longer at it."

Una, meanwhile, is preparing to take part in Celebrity Bear Hunt on Netflix next month alongside fellow former popstar Mel B, as well as Shirley Ballas of Strictly Come Dancing fame.

She had previously been married to Ben Foden from 2012 before getting divorced six years later and they share two children, Aoife Belle and Tadhg.

Former England rugby player Ben is also dad to Farrah and baby Olympia, whom he shares with his second wife Jackie Belanoff Smith.

Speaking to former Love Island star Faye Winter and Vogue Williams on the Boots Taboo Talk podcast in February of last year the Tipperary woman said that her entire life was “turned upside down” when she ended things amid rumours that Ben was unfaithful.

“When you find that person that you decide to stay with, to marry, and to live with... When that ends, that’s when your whole life is turned upside down because you build a life with that person,” she explained.

“It’s different than just (saying), ‘I miss you so much’. It’s figuring out where you're going to start with rebuilding your life. It’s a big, long process when kids are involved.

“We shared banks accounts, we shared a house, we shared so much stuff. It’s just a headache.

“When we split up and everything needed to be done with the house, I arranged all the removals... I got no help whatsoever with any of that. I just think they’re (exes) so lazy; they just know it’s going to be done. That’s why you have to be strong, because who (else) is going to do it?”

Una admitted that that she’d had a “bit of fun” on celeb dating app Raya straight after the breakup, but ultimately gave up as dating was too “time-consuming” for her.

And while her split from Ben was extremely difficult, she’s over the moon for him and his new family.

“I’m truly happy for him that he’s happy and has found love again and has started a whole new family because he’s the father of my children, so I always want to wish him happiness.

“The kids have great holiday time with their dad - they spend Christmas and summers with him. And in fairness, he’s so good when he’s with them.”