Solicitor speaks out for Hamilton case woman

MEDIA: rumours over identity sparked decision, says lawyer

The lawyer representing Nadine Milroy-Sloan, the woman who accused Neil and Christine Hamilton of sexual assault, has defended her decision to reveal her identity and sell herstory to the News of the World.John Bridge, senior partner of Grimsby-based Bridge McFarland Granville Chapman Geo.

A White & Co, said: 'My client went to the newspaper because the amount of speculation in the press led her to fear that her identity would be revealed anyway.'He denied that the article could prejudice the trial in any way, saying it 'contained no information about the case which wasn't already in the public domain thanks to other sources, and the interview was done by Ms Milroy-Sloan solely to contradict the scurrilous rumours circulating about her'.Meanwhile, Nick Freeman, a Manchester-based sole practitioner who represents Barry Lehaney - the man accused by Ms Milroy-Sloan of raping her while the Hamiltons sexually assaulted her - said the interviews given by the pair and Ms Milroy-Sloan had resulted in a US-style 'trial by media' which was 'deeply unhealthy' and 'has effectively sabotaged the judicial process'.'Because the police inquiry is ongoing, this sort of information should not have been brought into the public arena at this stage,' said Mr Freeman, who said he gave a press conference last week 'simply due to the constant press attention and badgering'.Michael Coleman, a partner at London firm Harkavys, is acting for the Hamiltons.Victoria MacCallum