Paul McCartney's public settlement

Feb 28, 2008, 7:35 GMT

02/18/2008 - Heather Mills - Sir Paul McCartney and Heather Mills Divorce Hearing - Day 8 - Departures - Royal Courts of Justice - London, England © Solarpix / PR Photos

Sir Paul McCartney and Heather Mills' divorce settlement is to be made public.

Judge Mr. Justice Bennett has told The Beatles legend and the former model he will reveal the outcome because of the "overwhelming interest" the case has attracted.

A source told Britain's Daily Mail newspaper: "The judge is considering making his judgment public. He feels there has been so much speculation that it would be in the public interest to end all the rumours. He has told McCartney and Mills he is considering doing that."

The main revelation will be the size of McCartney's payout to Mills.

It is thought she will receive between £20 million and £30 million, much less than the £65 million she was originally rumoured to be getting.

Judge Bennett plans to make his judgment public at a hearing provisionally set for March 17 at London's Royal Courts of Justice.

McCartney, 65, and Mills, 40, have been told to keep their diaries clear for that day.

Sources claim Judge Bennett may produce two judgments - one for the public which avoids all mention of the couple's four-year-old daughter, Beatrice, and a full version for McCartney, Mills and their legal advisers.

It was initially claimed Mills - who represented herself throughout the hearing - would get a £20 million cash payout, along with a further £2.5 million annually for the next 14 years to look after Beatrice.

It was also thought she would receive 24-hour security, a nanny, a housekeeper, a travel budget and a personal trainer, and that McCartney had agreed to settle her £2 million legal bill and her £2.2 million overdraft.

Heather has already been given £2 million in cash as an interim payment.

(C) BANG Media International