Van Morrison denies baby story

VAN MORRISON has denied that he has become a dad again and said he was the victim of an internet hoax.

Last Tuesday, a message on the singer's official website said he and his manager Gigi Lee had welcomed a son named George Ivan Morrison III into the world.

The statement said: "Gigi (Lee) and Van Morrison are proud to announce the birth of their first born son, George Ivan Morrison III.

"Little Van, born Dec 28, 2009 - the spitting image of his daddy. He is a dual citizen of Northern Ireland/United Kingdom and the United States."

Many news outlets, including Music News, the BBC and other international sites, reported the story as fact on the day.

But yesterday Morrison denied the story and said it was "completely and utterly without foundation".

In a statement he said: "The comments which appeared on my website did not come from me."

He said he had asked his management to investigate the hacking and said it was the second time it had happened in the last three months.

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

A friend of Morrison's said he had never heard of Ms Lee and added that one of the things that triggered alarm bells was the language used in the 'statement'.

John Saunders, who founded the Dublin-based public relations company Fleishman-Hillard, added: "It was so unlike him to make an announcement like this."

He said he "hesitated" telling Morrison about the reports but his wife told him to do something.

Morrison, whose hits include Brown Eyed Girl and Moondance, celebrated his 40th year in the music industry in 2008.

He first found fame in the 1960s as a member of the band Them, before embarking on a solo career.