Heather Mills divorce settlement

Heather Mills secures £24.3 million divorce settlement

Heather Mills was yesterday awarded £24.3 million as a divorce settlement from Sir Paul McCartney – and celebrated by allegedly throwing a glass of water over his lawyer, Fiona Shackleton.

The former model, who had sought £125 million and refused Paul's offer of £15.8 million, said she was 'so glad it's over' and, referring to Shackleton's waterlogged look, said the lawyer had been 'baptised in court' for handling the case 'in the worst way imaginable' and for making 'unpleasant comments' about her.

The 40-year-old then announced she intends to carry on the fight with a further appeal, provoked by her ex-husband's insistence that the full divorce settlement be made public, not by disappointment in the amount she received.

In fact, in a 12-minute post-battle speech, which some have called a 'rant', Heather said she was pleased with 'an incredible result', but insists the judgement should be kept secret to protect the privacy of the couple's daughter, Beatrice.

She said: 'The judgement involved private secure matters of my daughter: where she goes to school, what she does, everything about her is in there.'

The animal rights campaigner said McCartney tried to make the judgement public 'because he wants to look like this generous Sir Paul.'

Mills, who represented herself after falling out with her lawyers after they demanded £600,000 in fees, which could 'easily go to charity', also accused Mr Justice Bennett – and 'the system' – of being biased towards 'powerful' people such as Sir Paul, and against 'litigants in person' like herself.

But she did seem happy with the financial settlement, saying: '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 and making a difference with.'