Heather Mills awarded $48.6m from ex-Beatle star McCartney

London: A British court ordered former Beatle Paul McCartney on Monday to pay his estranged wife Heather Mills £24.3 million (Dh179.77 million) after an acrimonious divorce battle.

Speaking after the judge's ruling, Mills said: "I am so glad it is over. It is an incredible result in the end.

"We are very, very pleased," she added.

McCartney declined to comment. McCartney, 65, married the former model and charity campaigner Mills, 40, in 2002 but they split four years later, blaming media intrusion into their private lives. They have a daughter, Beatrice, 4.

Mills criticised McCartney's lawyer Fiona Shackleton, accusing her of handling the case badly and of calling her names. Mills, who sacked her lawyer and represented herself in court, urged would-be divorcees to do the same thing.

"You can be a litigating person," she said. "You'd save yourself a fortune."

Justice Hugh Bennett, giving details of the settlement, said: "She sought an award of almost £125 million. Sir Paul proposed the wife should exit the marriage with assets of £15.8 million. The judgment decided that the husband should pay the wife a lump sum of £16.5 million, which together with her assets of £7.8 million means that she exits her marriage with total assets of £24.3 million."

The court ruled that the judgment be made public, but stayed publication pending Mills' appeal against it being made public.

Do you know any other well-known or infamous divorces? Should the private or intimate details of a famous couple be revealed to the public during such a trying time? Do celebrities use everything to promote themselves?

This proves that women are not to be considered just rags, to be used and thrown. She is the mother of his child; she deserves to be given more. Give her some respect.
George
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: March 18, 2008, 13:05

I wonder who will be the next victim!
Muhammad
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 18, 2008, 12:45

She's a gold digger.
Paul
Dubai,UK
Posted: March 18, 2008, 11:48

Lucky Heather!
Sumeya
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 18, 2008, 11:42