Court hears U2 bassist object to claim employee became 'indentured to him'

Adam Clayton has denied that the former personal assistant accused of stealing nearly €3m from him, purchased items for him in her name to protect his privacy and anonymity.

The U2 bass guitarist told the trial of Carol Hawkins: “The fact is she wrote cheques from my accounts and put them in her accounts.”

“She was using my accounts to pay her bills,” Mr Clayton emphasised.

Hawkins (aged 48) of Lower Rathmines Road, Dublin has pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 181 counts of theft from two of Mr Clayton’s Bank of Ireland accounts over a four year period from 2004 to 2008. The alleged thefts totalled €2,869,274

Under cross-examination by defence counsel Ken Fogarty SC, Mr Clayton denied that what Ms Hawkins spent the €2.8m on was for his benefit.

Defence counsel suggested privacy was the reason why it was Ms Hawkins' name on the lease for the apartment at Taylor’s Hill in 2006 which was being rented by her and her family while renovations were taking place at Mr Clayton’s Danesmoate estate.

Mr Fogarty put it to Mr Clayton: “You would prefer not to have every Tom, Dick and Harry knowing things about you, bar he lives there.”

“That would be fair,” Mr Clayton replied.

Mr Clayton agreed it was him who was paying the rent on behalf of Ms Hawkins as this was part of the salary deal they agreed on.

“But there was no necessity for her to pay for things for me in her own name,” said Mr Clayton.

Mr Fogarty asked the witness if he accepted that he lived in a world that “the rest of us”, lawyers, judge and jury members, could only observe.

Mr Clayton said he lives a perfectly normal, regular life when he is not working and he has “done shopping” for himself.

When it was put to him that some people live in a more rarefied atmosphere than others, Mr Clayton replied “only when I’m working.”

“We all live in the same world,” Mr Clayton replied.

Mr Clayton agreed with defence counsel that if limousines were booked by the U2 partnership, they were paid by the partnership and if he booked them in person himself, he would pay for them himself.

He agreed with counsel he had never seen the accused “swanning around in a limo,” or seen her “wearing shoes with the red soles”, referring to “Christian Louboutin” shoes which were purchased on Ms Hawkins' credit card with money allegedly transferred from Mr Clayton’s bank account.

He also said he did not give Ms Hawkins permission to spend his money educating her children, Joe and Eleanor. He said he had hired Ms Hawkins and her husband John to work for him and how they educated their children was not his concern.

He said he was not concerned about how Mr Hawkins was paying for the upkeep of the horse he loaned him €20,000 to purchase.

“I didn’t ask him for a business plan. I am not a business man,” said Mr Hawkins.

He explained that Mr Hawkins told him he could not get a loan from the bank. “They were trusted and I lent the money. That was my involvement.”

Mr Fogarty put it to Mr Clayton that Ms Hawkins’ responsibilities had increased over the years. The witness agreed but added: “I wouldn’t say she was burdened down with work.”

He objected to the suggestion that Ms Hawkins, who was on a “modest” salary of €48,000, became “indentured to him as a bond servant.”

“I’m sorry, but I have to object to that,” said Mr Clayton.

The trial continues before Judge Patrick McCartan and a jury of seven men and five women.