Adam Clayton’s former PA pleads not guilty to theft

A former personal assistant and housekeeper to Adam Clayton has gone on trial for allegedly stealing almost €3 million from the U2 bass player.

Carol Hawkins, aged 47, of Lower Rathmines Road, Dublin 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 €2,862,567.

It took almost two hours to arraign Ms Hawkins on all the charges. A jury has been sworn in for the trial, which prosecuting counsel Colm O’Briain BL will open today.

Mr Clayton is expected to give evidence before Judge Patrick McCartan which is expected to last six weeks. The case involves over 30 witnesses and a 2,500-page book of evidence.