Van Morrison 'asked to take DNA test'

Van Morrison has reportedly been asked to take a paternity test to determine whether or not he is the father of a 42-year-old woman.

Samantha Branch told The Mail On Sunday that she is planning to take the singer to court to find out if she is related to him. Branch's mother Dee reportedly had a relationship with Morrison while she was working as his road manager.

Branch explained: "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."

She added that she once met Morrison backstage at a concert and he came to her flat after she showed him pictures of her mother.

"He was polite but seemed a bit cold," she said. "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 to him."

However, Morrison reportedly cut off contact when Branch asked him to take a paternity test.

"We'd had some kind of row," she explained. "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 some recognition and to clear up whether or not he is actually my father."

In a statement, Morrison said: "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."

> Van Morrison 'to sue Mail on Sunday'