Sunday Mirror

She says: ‘He’s lovely. He makes me feel safe’

- BY EMMA PRYER

THE wife of TV hardman Donal MacIntyre has fallen in love with the bodyguard hired to protect her. Mum- of- three Ameera, who last year branded crimebuste­r Donal a “lying, cheating scumbag” is now dating close protection officer Russell Smith. The pair have been together since November and are now planning to move in together. Ameera, 40, said: “I’m so happy to have a lovely fella like Russ by my side after a tough time. He makes me feel safe for the first time in a long while.” The 39-year-old minder, also married with three children, says he split from his wife, Emma, before he began dating Ameera. He was brought in to protect Donal’s family after the under- cover Irish investigat­or – a target of underworld revenge plots – moved out of the family home.

A source said: “Ameera was left heartbroke­n after splitting from Donal, after all they have been through because of his work.

“She hired Russell when Donal left because she didn’t feel safe alone with the kids.

“He was also going through a split. It was a difficult time for both of them and they just hit it off. Russell, who’s known Donal for years, attended many events with them and they’ve grown closer and closer over the months. It’s nice to see Ameera smiling again.”

Earlier this year Russ called police to Ameera’s Surrey home when she was ambushed by a thug who shouted: “Where’s your f***ing grass of a husband?”

During the nine-year marriage, they moved home more than 10 times to avoid villains and soccer gangs targeted in Donal’s MacIntyre Uncovered TV series.

Their relationsh­ip ended last year and in October Ameera claimed on Facebook that Donal, 50, had an affair, saying: “Lying cheating scumbag. How could you ruin this beautiful family???” He denied her claims. Russell’s wife Emma insisted last night their marriage could be salvaged.

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