january 3, 2010 another exclusive y rings in r never heard ... · quinn, who is home in dublin for...

January 3, 2010 3

ANOTHER EXCLUSIVEANOTHER EXCLUSIVE

VAN: Doesn’t know Gigi

Van: ‘I’venever heardof this Gigi’

By NEIL FETHERSTONFRIENDS of Van Morrisoninsisted last night that thelegendary singer wasunaware of the identity ofthe woman at the centre ofa bizarre baby hoax story.

The reclusive singer wasforced to issue a rare pressstatement on New Year'sEve, denying allegationsthat he had fathered achild with a musicproducer called Gigi Lee.

Morrison claimed thatthe rumours surroundingthe birth of the childnamed as ‘George IvanMorrison III’ hadoriginated after hiswebsite had been hacked.

A message onVanMorrison.com said thebaby was “the spittingimage of his daddy”.

But the star insisted, in astatement: The commentswhich appeared on my sitedid not come from me,”Morrison wrote. “They arecompletely and utterly

without foundation.”He added: “I am very

happily married toMichelle Morrison withwhom I have twowonderful children.”

However, Morrison'sfurthest insistence that hehad never even heard ofthe woman at the centre ofthe rumours was calledinto question when ajournalist claimedMorrison had sat in hisdressing room in thecompany of his tourproducer Gigi Lee.

Last night friendsinsisted that Morrison didnot know the woman.

“Van would be in lots ofrooms with lots of peopleover the course of hiscareer who he would notnecessarily know,” oneclose friend said last night.

The Belfast-born star,who has a daughter aged39 from his first marriageto Janet Minto, met themodel and socialiteMichelle Rocca.Theyreunited after a brokenengagement in 1996 andsubsequently had twochildren together.

WEDDING BELLS?:Quinn with his much

younger girlfriend Evehave been shopping

for engagement rings

TONY RINGS INTHE NEW YEARTONY RINGS INTHE NEW YEARTONY RINGS INTHE NEW YEARTONY RINGS INTHE NEW YEARTONY RINGS INTHE NEW YEARTONY RINGS INTHE NEW YEARQUESTION: Nicola Tallant (left) with Quinn and Eve in Monte Carlo

‘Messiah’ Quinn spottedshopping for sparklerMUCKY Messiah Tony Quinn has beenissued an ultimatum by his busty blondelover to ‘put a ring on it’.

Quinn, who is home in Dublin for New Year, wasspotted in exclusive Weir’s Jewellers on GraftonStreet on Christmas Eve looking at engagementrings with girlfriend Eve.

Insiders at his Educo cult say he is coming underincreasing pressure from the South African beautyto make an honest woman of her despite their 39year age gap.

The 62-year-old, whom followers are convinced is JesusChrist, has remained a bachelor throughout his lucrativecareer as a ‘guru’.

He has had a string of young lovers over the years buthas been in a relationship with Eve for the past fouryears since she attended one of his mindbending semi-nars in Morocco.

She lives with him in the Bahamas where he has a luxu-ry property on Paradise Island. She travels with himaround the world when he hosts his sessions in the sun for€60,000 a head.

FollowersThe 23-year-old is held up as a poster girl for his Educogym

network and has claimed that its workouts have ‘naturally’shaped her figure.

Although she shares his home in the Bahamas she is notallowed use his personal gold-plated bathroom and has her ownguest room at the property. She behaves in slave-like fashiontowards Quinn, as do all his followers.

She carries his bags, cooks and caters to his every need and evendresses the way he likes her to, in short and revealing dresses. Sheregularly polishes the six-foot statue of Jesus that stands on the stair-well to his bedroom.

Those who knew her before she met Quinn say she came froma wealthy South African family. She was on the verge of becom-ing a golf pro when Quinn recruited her.They say she has totallychanged her image to emulate his idol Marilyn Monroe.

Quinn, Eve and his personal secretary Mary Power flew intoIreland on December 23 to spend Christmas at his Hick’s Towercompound in Malahide.

He will host a meeting at the RDS for followers later thismonth and is expected to stay in Dublin until the end of thismonth when he will return to the Bahamas to host a seminar inthe plush Hotel Riu on Paradise Island.

He is hoping that the recession won’t hit followers who will digdeep to come up with the €10,000 to pay him for the seminarand then foot the bill for their flights, accommodation and food.

nicola.tallant@sundayworld.com

By NICOLA TALLANT

LOVE: With Michelle