Giuliani ordered to keep his girlfriend and children apart

A court overseeing the politician’s divorce case ruled that his two teenage children can no longer to stay at his Manhattan home while his girlfriend, Judith Nathan, is sleeping there.

Judge Judith Gische said the overnight presence of Ms Nathan, 46, would have a detrimental effect on the youngsters - at least until the conclusion of Mr Giuliani’s battle with his estranged wife, Donna Hanover.

In an eight-page ruling she concluded that Andrew, 16, and Caroline, 12, "were not psychologically ready" to cope with the emotional strain and confusion caused by two different women being in their father’s home.

"[Mr Giuliani] refuses to agree on anything other than his having a unfettered right to make any and all decisions regarding the children’s contact with J.N.," the judge said.

She added: "They can hardly be said to have a comfortable, familiar relationship with her.

"The children need to establish a new routine of time with their father without worrying about competing for his attention."

The rulings are the latest in a bitter legal battle between Mr Giuliani and his estranged wife.

The former mayor claims Ms Hanover subjected him to "cruel and inhumane treatment" during their 16-year marriage. She has yet to file a legal counterclaim, which Mr Giuliani’s lawyer, Raoul Felder, claimed means she "wants to stay married".

Mr Felder said: "She doesn’t want to be divorced. He must be some kind of wonderful guy. It’s bizarre. At this point, she looks a little ridiculous."

Ms Hanover’s lawyer retorted that she was "appalled that Rudy would authorise such vitriol and untrue statements about Donna, who the judge has acknowledged is a devoted mother".

In the ruling, Judge Gische allowed Mr Giuliani, 57, and Ms Hanover, 51, to spend alternate weekends with the children. The youngsters were granted a separate mid-week dinner date with Mr Giuliani, to allow each to have time alone with him.

School holidays will be shared evenly between Mr Giuliani and Ms Hanover, and a psychologist will also be appointed to evaluate custody and visitation issues, the judge ruled.

Last May, following a request by Ms Hanover, the judge barred Ms Nathan from appearing anywhere the Mr Giuliani children would be.

At Mr Giuliani's request, the judge lifted that prohibition, saying the children’s future contacts with Ms Nathan should be gradual. She suggested Mr Giuliani talk to the children about their feelings on the matter.

The verdict dominated yesterday’s papers in New York, where Mr Giuliani is still very much a hero after guiding the city through the aftermath of the World Trade Centre attacks.

Last month he received a rapturous reception in Britain, after flying in with Ms Nathan to receive an honorary knighthood for his work with the bereaved.

He will not be able to call himself "Sir Rudolph" as he is not a British citizen, but he can put the initials KBE (knight of the British Empire) after his name.

Ms Nathan, a New York socialite, said last night in a statement: "I love the mayor very much and look forward to all of these issues being resolved."

The former couple’s war over their children has led Judge Gische to approve the appointment of a mental health expert to examine the entire family.

Mr Giuliani’s lawyer, Mr Felder stormed: "You don’t have to be Dr Freud to understand there is something twisted in Ms Hanover’s thinking here."

Judge Gische noted: "Over time, the parties’ level of conflict has continued unabated."

She said a psychologist is needed because of the couple’s inability to agree on custody and visitation.

But Mr Felder suggested that overnight visits with the children and Ms Nathan are "a reality of life". "The whole world understands it and accepts it, except Ms Hanover."

A permanent custody and visitation schedule are to be set later. The divorce proceedings are to start in June.