Mel Gibson Laughs Off Lovechild Claims  12/20/06

Mel Gibson has played down suggestions he has a love child - insisting he knows nothing about the recent claims.

Carmel Sloane, 29, alleges her mother Marilyn was picked up by Gibson when she was hitchhiking in Australia in 1976.

Gibson, who then worked at an orange juice factory in Adelaide, apparently then romanced her in the back of his wagon - but Marilyn, who claims she then fell pregnant with Carmel, never saw him again after their steamy interlude.

Carmel told British Newspaper the News Of The World on Sunday (17DEC06), "We have no choice but to go legal so that we can get to the bottom of this once and for all.

"A simple DNA test will sort it out."

However, the Lethal Weapon actor, who has seven children with wife Robyn, insists he knows nothing about the claims.

A spokesperson for the star says, "Never heard of her or this matter. Why, at 29, someone would come forth... what's to stop anyone from claiming this?"