McCartney buys Linda's secret tapes for £200,000

By Stone Martindale Nov 5, 2006, 16:52 GMT

epa00834432 Sir Paul McCartney attends the show staged by his designer daughter Stella McCartney on the 5th day of the Ready to Wear Spring-Summer 2007 fashion week in Paris, France, Thursday 5 October 2006. ---FRANCE OUT--- SIPA OUT--- EPA/STR

The Daily Mail reports that Paul McCartney has allegedly paid £200,000 for audio tapes which contain recorded allegations about his marriage to his first wife Linda.

Heather Mills wants to use these tapes as part of her divorce claim that he was abusive towards her.

The Daily Mail alleges the transaction took place with Paul "during an extraordinary cloak-and-dagger meeting in a Central London cafe."

Paul dealt with literary agent Peter Cox, who made these tapes with Linda when he worked on the cookbook "Home Cooking" with Linda.

The Daily Mail reports that a public meeting was arranged, with the two meeting up in Soho Square Wednesday morning.   The report states a half an hour was spent while McCartney "poured his heart out about his marital troubles in full view of their astonished fellow diners."

The Daily Mail alleges it was overheard that McCartney revealed how much money Heather wants - a whopping £80million divorce settlement.

It was observed that the two men exxchanged a large envelope, which McCartney was said to have opened immediately after they secured their breakfast order and sat down.

"Paul immediately picked it up, broke the seal and began rummaging inside. Then he turned to the bearded guy and said something like, 'We must keep this out of the papers'. Reports the Daily Mail.

Cox told The Daily Mail last week how he became Linda's confidante while they were writing the cookbook. He revealed Linda was unhappy about aspects of her marriage.

Unnamed sources present in the diner told the Daily Mail: "They spoke about Linda at first and it was clear that both of them really adored her. Maybe that drew them together but the next minute Sir Paul was telling him all these things that left me unsure of where to look."

McCartney was further overheard to draw comparisons between his American born first wife Linda, and Heather.  Linda was always content to remain out of the limelight, and was adored by locals for her friendly unpretentiousness.  Heather was another story.

"He said, 'I was prepared to settle things amicably but suddenly Heather turned and something happened to her after that. She has told so many lies like the one about me being a drunk - just because I sometimes go to pubs. It's all a pack of lies you know, that I am stingy - that's another one'." McCartney was overheard saying.

The unnamed diner added: "Paul said, 'When she wrote her autobiography she lied, you know, we all know that. Saying I was a drunk and that I used her. It's not true. She lies and lies. Then it all goes on and on with her playing up to the papers.

"'And it's all c**p and rubbish. If she doesn't get what she wants she'll pick a fight. It's all lies that she has told her solicitors and all I can do is to try and keep calm. It's just my luck to have all these problems. I am really miserable, bullied actually. It just p***** me off, it is such c**p. I am being described as a b****** and it's just not true'." Reports the Daily Mail.

Paul's first wife Linda died very young from cancer in 1998. She was only 56. She and Paul were married for 29 years and had four children together.

The judge who now hears the divorce between Paul and Heather will have the right to order that the 20 hours of tapes are played to see whether they will back up Mills' claims about his being violent towards her.