Mills may challenge gagging order

Heather Mills may launch a new fight to have court papers detailing her marriage to Sir Paul McCartney published.

Ms Mills, who was awarded £24.3 million in the recent divorce judgment, was frustrated that full court transcripts were held back under the terms of a gagging order.

At the same time, Mr Justice Bennett rejected claims that the full publication of the judgment, including security and living arrangements, could put their four-year-old daughter, Beatrice, in danger.

Her lawyer, David Rosen, who took over as her solicitor-advocate when she became "overwhelmed" by the fact the judgment was going to be made public, said: "It's a time for reflection. She has to consider her options.

"Everyone looks for closure. The question is whether Heather Mills has that closure or not.

"If things are being said about you, you should have a right to reply. As to how best to make that reply, that's a matter for her to consider."

Mr Rosen said Ms Mills was "desperate to get back to her charity work" although she would probably work behind the scenes to avoid intrusive questions about the case.

He said she was not a gold-digger, and was "very happy" with the money.

He said: "She wasn't disappointed, she was very happy. It was a good figure.

"She would have accepted a lesser sum.

"What is not understood is that the only offers ever made came with a variety of conditions and hoops and hurdles that she wasn't able to jump through."

Mr Rosen said the public was judging her on a small amount of the evidence and it would "perhaps be better for the public to see everything".

He added that he had "no criticism" of Mr Justice Bennett for his decision.

The judge described Ms Mills' evidence as "not just inconsistent and inaccurate but also less than candid".

Mr Rosen said the "main thing" Ms Mills was upset about was the lost time with her daughter.

And he praised Ms Mills as an intelligent woman who presented her case very well.

He said: "I believe that Heather always wanted to deal with it amicably.

"I've seen junior barristers do a far worse job than she did. I think she did remarkably well."

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