Morrison Faces Paternity Test Demand

A British woman is reportedly set to take Van Morrison to court in a bid to determine if he's her father.

Samantha Branch, whose late mum Dee was the singer's road manager, is allegedly demanding Morrison take a paternity test.

Dee is believed to have shared a London flat with the singer in the mid-1960s but she died in 1967 - just four months after Samantha was born - naming no father on the tot's birth certificate.

But Samantha's relatives allege her mother claimed the Brown Eyed Girl hitmaker had fathered the child - and now the 42 year old wants to solve the mystery.

She explains, "Dee left her family and friends in no doubt who the father was, but I would like to know once (and) for all if he really is".

Samantha previously tried to connect with the star in 1986 but their relationship ended a year later (87) when she asked him to take a Dna test.

She recalls, "He was polite but seemed a bit cold. He asked me what I knew about my mother, and a few questions about myself. He also asked me what I wanted from him. I told him I didn't want anything other than some recognition of who and what I was. "He said he wasn't sure if I was his or not because he wondered about the timing of everything.

All I ever wanted from him was recognition and to clear up whether or not he is actually my father". The 64 year old has refused to address Samantha's allegations. A statement released on Saturday (16Jan10) reads "My private life is exactly that - it is private.

I have, in my long career, never spoken about it and I'm not about to start doing so now".