Mills McCartney to sue over 'defamatory' allegations

Heather Mills McCartney is planning legal action against those "intent on damaging her reputation" onceshe finalizes her divorce from Paul McCartney, her lawyers said Tuesday.

Mills McCartney, 38, has been at the centre of a media firestorm since May, when the onetime fashion model and McCartney, 63, announced plans to separate after four years of marriage.

Lastweekend, the British newspaper News of the Worldreported allegations thatshe had worked as a prostitute when she was in her 20s.

Other coverage included an article in London's Sun newspaper featuring nude photos ofMills McCartneythat had originally appeared in a German publication.

On Tuesday, a statement from the law firm Coyle White Devine saidMills McCartney"will defer issue of legal proceedings until the arrangements in relation to the divorce are concluded, but intends to sue at that stage all parties (including individuals) who are intent on damaging her reputation."

Media glovesoff after separation announcement

Withindays after thecouple announced their separation, British tabloidsbegan publishing unflattering articles about Mills McCartney. Most recently,they have turned to digging into her purportedly lurid past.

"Heather is very distressed by [the News of the World]article," Tuesday's statement said, adding that Mills McCartney has called the allegations "untrue and highly defamatory."

When they announced their separation on May 17, the couple partially blamed the media's constant intrusions into their privatelives for the marriage breakdown.

The following day, McCartney defended his estranged wife, who is also motherof his two-year-old daughter, Beatrice.

"Seeing that so many inaccurate stories have been written at the moment about Heather and myself, all I can ask people to do is not believe them and understand that most of what is coming out is made up and entirely false,"the former Beatlesaid in a statement released May 18.