Adviser told Clayton to remove PA as signatory

A former business adviser of Adam Clayton has told a trial he recommended that the U2 member remove his personal assistant as a cheque signatory as soon as she had admitted spending some of his money on herself.

Gabby Smith told the trial of Carol Hawkins, the former PA of Mr Clayton accused of stealing almost €3m, that in 2008, she went to Mr Clayton to confess she had spent €15,325.70 of his money on airline flights for her own benefit.

Ms Hawkins, aged 48, of Lower Rathmines Rd, 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.