plunged deeper into debt by a hefty legal bill yesterday.

The former Progressive Labour Party MP lost his bid to appeal the order to pay the trustees of a Canadian millionaire's widow.

And costs were ordered against him, piling thousands of dollars onto his legal fees.

Yesterday's ruling leaves Mr. Hall still immersed in bankruptcy proceedings, with receivers already carving up his assets.

He was not in the Court of Appeals to hear his case fail yesterday.

And Appeals' President Sir James Astwood accused him of treating the court "shabbily'', adding: "It's almost contempt of court. The court is not to be treated as a circus.'' Sir James also ordered Mr. Hall to pay the legal costs of accountants Paul Hubbard and John Boden, who handle the estate of Betty Lorraine McMahon.

Chief Justice Austin Ward ordered Mr. Hall to pay the $1,609,740.63, plus simple interest at seven percent, in 1997.

Mr. Justice Ward dismissed a summons from Mr. Hall to overturn the judgment last July. And Sir James took 20 minutes to deny the lawyer's appeal yesterday, after a 70-minute hearing.

He also ridiculed claims by lawyer Ian Kawaley that Mr. Hall had not been given an opportunity to speak in court because of a prolonged illness, lasting throughout 1997 and early 1998.

Mr. Kawaley made a string of technical legal arguments in a bid to show one hearing should have been adjourned in June 1997.

He also argued that Mr. Justice Ward was wrong to say he had no jurisdiction to dismiss Mr. Hall's summons -- challenging the order -- last July.

Mr. Kawaley said Mr. Hall was receiving treatment abroad for a medical condition at the time of the proceedings.

He added: "This is a case in which summary judgment in excess of $1 million has been entered against the applicant, who is a member of this Bar.

"What the medical evidence shows is that he hasn't been heard. It is in the very least arguable that his ill health and his absence at least was a good reason for the hearing on June 23, 1997, being adjourned.

"Mr. Hall wasn't in a position to take a reasonable interest in his affairs for a substantial amount of time throughout 1997 and going into 1998.'' Andrew Martin, representing the accountants, said Mr. Hall was represented in court by his former lawyer Michael Scott, who applied for the hearing to be adjourned.

Mr. Martin said it was only when his request failed that Mr. Scott said his only instruction was to apply for an adjournment.

"For all intents and purposes, Mr. Scott appeared for Mr. Hall,'' he said.

"Otherwise, when things are going badly, counsel would simply withdraw and the courts would be left in a hopeless mess.'' Former MP hit with legal bill He added: "In his ruling, the Chief Justice said he was satisfied that Mr.

Hall was afforded every opportunity to attend.'' Sir James added: "He was sick, but he had his lawyers and he had his friends who could have brought all these things to the court.'' He said a hearing on May 23, 1997 was told Mr. Hall would be back in Bermuda within 21 days, only for the next hearing to be told it would take another five days.

Sir James said Mr. Hall "made it look'' as though he hadn't appeared, adding: "He's trying to get around the Chief Justice via a very circuitous route.

"The Supreme Court has been treated shabbily and now he's trying to treat this court shabbily.

"It's not the way this court is going to be treated -- not under my administration.

"He was given the opportunity to appear before the courts and represent his case. He can't complain about the opportunities he's had to present his defences to this case.'' Mr. Hall has already lost his house at 42 Mount Hill, Pembroke, which was auctioned off for $640,000 in February 1998.

Last June, he also hit out at gossips who claimed he was dying, saying: "I haven't been hospitalised and I'm in the peak of good health.

"Somebody is spreading these rumours and they ceased to be amusing a long time ago.'' Julian Hall