Van Morrison denies 'fourth child'

Northern Irish singer Van Morrison has 'categorically denied' reports that he has fathered a fourth child.

The Belfast singer issued a statement this afternoon denying reports this week that he had fathered a fourth child.

In his statement, the Belfast singer said the story was the result of his website being hacked earlier this week and said the claims - which " did not come from me" - are "completely and utterly without foundation."

A statement appeared on the website on December 29th, saying he had fathered a baby with a woman named as 'Gigi Lee'. She was described in the statement as the executive producer on Morrison’s US tour to promote the 40th anniversary last year of the release of his masterpiece, Astral Weeks.

The statement described “little Van” as “the spitting image of his daddy”.

In today's statement, Mr Morisson said he has asked his management team to carry out an immediate investigation into the incident.

Mr Morisson said the statement was taken down from the site "but not before news organisations repeated these falsehoods."

"For the avoidance of all doubt and in the interests of clarity, I am very happily married to Michelle Morrison with whom I have two wonderful children," he added.

Speaking on RTE's radio news this afternoon, a family friend of Mr Morrison's, Mr John Saunders, said the singer was 'flabbergasted' and 'dismayed' at the story.

He said the Belfast singer had never heard of the supposed mother's name "at any time in the past".

He said Mr Morrison 'categoricallty denied' he had fathered a fourth child and described the claim as a "complete and utter fiction".