FRIENDS and associates of Sir Paul McCartney stepped in yesterday to defend the singer in his acrimonious divorce battle, and to ridicule Lady McCartney’s claims against him.

The animosity between the couple has been taken to a new level, with friends of Lady McCartney claiming that she had told them that her husband had beaten his first wife, Linda.

Sir Paul’s former booking manager and a former publicist who claims that the former model impersonated her have stated in separate interviews that the claims of violence, cruelty and domestic abuse by his estranged wife defied belief.

An investigative journalist called Heather Mills, who works for Private Eye, recounted yesterday how Lady McCartney — who shared her name before marriage — pretended to be her for more than a year in the 1990s.

Details of the divorce papers were disputed by Geoff Baker, a senior member of Sir Paul’s staff for 15 years. “To brand Paul a wife-beater is the most absurd f***ing claim anyone can make,” he said. “I was with them for four years when she says a lot of this took place. I never saw him lay a finger on her or abuse her. Her allegations are outrageous lies. It is pure wickedness.”

Mr Baker said that the couple had seemed happy and “very much in love” during the singer’s American tour in November 2002, when it is alleged that he grabbed his wife’s neck and threw her over a table. He added that none of the 198-strong entourage had witnessed signs of problems.

He also challenged claims that Sir Paul pushed his pregnant wife into a bath while visiting Rome in May 2003, that he became violent when accused of smoking marijuana, and that he left her to crawl up the steps of an aircraft because there was not enough room for her wheelchair.

He was also astonished at the claim that Sir Paul had beaten Linda. “It’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard,” he said. “Everyone knows that Paul and Linda had one of the happiest marriages in showbusiness.” Mr Baker, who admits to disliking Lady McCartney and was consequently sacked from Sir Paul’s staff in 2004, also dismissed as “ludicrous” claims that the singer had lunged at his wife with a broken wine glass.

Joe Flannery, a friend of Sir Paul for more than 40 years, said that he did not a believe a word of the claims listed in the divorce papers.

The publisher and manager, who has remained close to Sir Paul since allowing the Beatles to use his apartment as rehearsal space in 1960, said: “I know Paul, and he is not a violent man. I have seen him provoked and he never resorted to violence. Anyone will tell you that he is the most eventempered and compassionate man you could have the pleasure to meet. I can’t imagine him doing any of the things that woman has said.”

Mr Flannery, 74, from Liverpool, recalled how Lady McCartney’s wellbeing had been his main priority during a visit to the city three years ago, when she was pregnant with their daughter, Beatrice.

He said: “He told me to look after her and we went for lunch. All I can say is that Heather and I didn’t exactly hit it off 100 per cent. He really looks after people and Heather should realise that.”

He added: “Heather should realise he will be a better friend to her if she treats him with care now and not alienate him with bitterness.”

Mark Mills, Lady McCartney’s estranged father, told a Sunday newspaper of his concerns for the couple’s daughter. He said: “Heather will regret what she is doing. He is held in great affection and she will be hated.”

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