UK:FOR A woman who had just been awarded more than £24 million (€31 million) - and who insisted she was thrilled with the "incredible result" - Heather Mills still had a few scores to settle when she emerged onto the steps of the high court in London yesterday.
Yes, she was happy enough with the sum, although it was barely one-fifth of what she had claimed. But a few things were niggling at her. The court. The publication of the judgment. Sir Paul McCartney's behaviour. The judge's assessment of his wealth. And the treatment she received from his lawyer, Fiona Shackleton.
She had sought £125 million for the four-year marriage; McCartney had offered £15.8 million. When they had failed to agree, Mr Justice Bennett imposed his own judgment on the former Beatle and the former model.
"I'm so glad it's over," she said. "It was an incredible result in the end to secure mine and my daughter's future and that of all the charities that I obviously plan on helping," she said.
Mills (40), who described herself as a "campaigning girl", defended her decision to part company with her lawyers, Mishcon de Reya - not least because the decision had saved her £600,000.
"Obviously, the court do not want a litigant in person to do well. It's against everything that they ever wish - so when they write the judgment up, they're never going to make it look in favour," she said. "But all of you that have researched know that it was always going to be a figure between 20 and 30 million. Paul was offering a lot less . . ."
She said she was appealing the judge's highly unusual decision to make the entire ruling public because it contained a lot of information about her daughter. "Everything about her is in there," she said, including where Beatrice went to school. Although a summary of the judgment was published yesterday, the full details have been withheld pending the appeal, to be heard today.
She also hit out at the £35,000 a year that McCartney (65) will pay for the care of their daughter. "She's obviously meant to travel B class while her father travels A class - but obviously I will pay for that."
Her ex-husband's fortune, she said, had been underestimated. The judge said McCartney's total wealth, including business assets, was about £400 million, not the £800 million cited in some reports.
Her payout is less than half the record £48 million award for Beverley Charman, ex-wife of tycoon John, from total assets of £131 million. But that followed a 28-year marriage in which the couple began with nothing.
Lawyers said Mills was entitled to less because the marriage was so short and McCartney's wealth was amassed before they met. Marilyn Stowe, a divorce solicitor, said she was "incredulous" that McCartney had offered £15.8 million, forcing Mills to take the case to court. Her grievances aired and the divorce finally settled, Mills said, "I just want to thank everybody for their support in finalising this. So at least we can start getting some really good headlines on the front pages, of important issues and matters instead of our boring divorce."
A spokesman for McCartney refused to comment on the case.
- (Guardian service)