Clayton PA found guilty of stealing €3m

The former personal assistant of Adam Clayton has been found guilty of stealing almost €3m from his bank accounts following a trial which the judge described as having “overwhelming evidence”.

The jury returned a unanimous verdict of guilty on all 181 counts after more than five hours of deliberations.

Carol Hawkins. aged 48, of Lower Rathmines Rd, Dublin, had 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 period of 2004 to 2008.

The alleged thefts totalled €2,862,567.

The trial heard Hawkins was a “trusted employee” of Mr Clayton who betrayed his trust when she started to write cheques from his bank accounts in her name and lodging them into her personal, joint, and credit card accounts.

The case was described by prosecution counsel as a “grubby tale of prolonged, repeated, and pernicious fraud and gross mistrust”.

The court heard Hawkins had misappropriated funds from the U2 bassist’s accounts and spent the money on purchasing and maintaining 22 thoroughbred racehorses, a €310,000 New York apartment, holidays, and shopping sprees.

She also spent €1.4m on her credit card, funded from Mr Clayton’s accounts, over the four-year period.

Defence counsel said after the verdict that Hawkins “maintains her position of innocence”.

Judge Patrick McCartan remanded Hawkins on bail for sentencing next Friday. He told the jury: “The evidence in this case was overwhelming. Nobody could seriously disagree with the verdict you have given.”

Mr Clayton made a short statement welcoming the decision. “I welcome today’s outcome and I wish to thank the jury, An Garda Síochána, and all those involved in the case. I would like to thank my family and friends and colleagues for their support,” he said.

Hawkins, who had previously run a small hotel on a Caribbean island, was employed in 1992 by Mr Clayton, initially as his housekeeper as he wanted someone to run his home while he was on tour with U2.

Her then husband John was employed at the same time as Mr Clayton’s driver and caretaker. They were on a joint salary of €48,000.

In 2004 Hawkins’s responsibilities grew and she became Mr Clayton’s PA and an authorised account signatory responsible for paying his household and his personal expenses.

“Substantial trust was given to Hawkins to write and sign cheques,” said prosecuting counsel Colm O’Briain.