A man who was told as a young child he was the secret son of Irish rock icon Phil Lynott was "tormented" up until the day he died that he never got the chance to prove his famous lineage with a DNA test.

Kevin Finnie, 43, died in hospital near his Liverpool home on Friday of last week, February 21, after battling an illness for the past 12 months.

Just over five years ago, the father of four broke a 30-year silence to claim he was the second illegitimate son of the late Thin Lizzy frontman. Up to that point it had been believed that Kildare man MacDaragh Lambe, 58, was the revered musician's only son - a fact he only discovered in 2003 after tracking down adoption papers.

Kevin, who bore a close resemblance to the legendary Irish rocker, had pledged to undergo a DNA test to prove beyond doubt his biological link to Philo. However, his efforts to scientifically confirm his lineage were dashed after attempts to obtain a DNA sample from MacDaragh to test if they both had the same gene - which would have been passed from Dad to son if they shared the same father - proved unsuccessful.

Over the past year, concerns had grown over Kevin's ailing health and well-being, as he increasingly battled alcoholism. According to friends, Kevin - who was born and raised in Liverpool - remained distressed by the fact he was unable to prove to the world his real identity right up to the day he died.