deal again came under fire yesterday as a marathon trial moved into its final stages.

Wealthy heiress Marion MacMillan agreed to sell the island to trucking tycoon Michael DeGroote in 1990, but she backed out of the deal.

Mr. DeGroote took her to Supreme Court, where attorney Mr. Robin McMillan is presenting a 40-page summing-up of her case, expected to last about four days.

Mr. McMillan said Mr. Chris Malley, the heiress' conveyancer at law firm Appleby, Spurling and Kempe, gave advice to Mr. Richard Spurling who then passed it on to Mr. DeGroote.

This situation had a potential for danger, Mr. McMillan said. Mrs. MacMillan had asked AS&K not to act for both parties in the sale.

Real estate firms Betco and Coopers failed to provide proper advice to Mrs.

MacMillan on the market value of her island, the court heard.

Coopers acted for Mr. DeGroote under a "misguided apprehension'', Mr.

McMillan said.

Betco, supposedly working for Mrs. MacMillan, also acted for Mr. DeGroote and promoted his interests on various occasions, the lawyer added.

The lines marking who was acting for whom were blurred, he said.

Ms Jonelle White of Betco had confided confidential information about Mrs.

MacMillan's state of mind to Mrs. Elaine Darling of Coopers, who had passed it on to Mr. DeGroote.

Ms White's comments, about the probability of Mrs. MacMillan changing her mind, were "unseemly'', said Mr. McMillan.

"There was indifference on the part of Betco as to which side they represented providing the sale went ahead.'' Mr. McMillan was criticised by Betco lawyer Mr. Mark Diel for introducing allegations at a late stage in the case.