Former Clayton PA 'owned 22 race horses'

The former personal assistant of Adam Clayton accused of stealing nearly €3m from him owned up to 22 thoroughbred race horses with her former husband, a court has heard.

Carol Hawkins and John Hawkins, who was employed as Mr Clayton’s driver at the time, were on a joint salary of €48,000 in 2006 when 17 of the horses, including race horses and brood mares, were in their ownership through their racing company, Plato Racing.

Hawkins (aged 48) of Lower Rathmines Road, Dublin has pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 181 counts of theft from Mr Clayton over a four-year period from 2004 to 2008. The alleged thefts totalled €2,862,567.

John Barrett, director at Sean Barrett Bloodstock Insurance Ltd, told prosecuting counsel Colm O’Briain BL he dealt with Mr Hawkins in 2005 for the purpose of insuring 22 horses.

The horses insured and owned by the couple included One Great Lady, Let’s Dance, Madame Mosaic and Manipulator.

“John Hawkins was described as the owner of the horses and I dealt with Carol Hawkins in relation to insurance of the horses,” said Mr Barrett.

In 2006 he received an email from Ms Hawkins to state that all of the horses, except three, are now owned by John and Carol Hawkins under Plato Racing.

The total sum insured on the horses was €320,500 with an annual premium in 2006 of €10,460.

Mr Barrett confirmed that by 2007, five of the horses in the UK were sold and two were transferred into the sole name of Carol Hawkins.

Ms Hawkins emailed Mr Barrett on November 15, 2007 to say “there was an interesting 12 months.” She said she and John had separated and she was now the sole owner of a horse named Adorabella and that Plato Racing was finished.

Mr Barrett gave evidence that the company received an email in 2008 from Ms Hawkins requesting cancellation of the renewal premium for all the horses as they had all been sold.

He also confirmed he had no dealings with Mr Clayton through the insurance company.

Under cross-examination by defence counsel Ken Fogarty SC, he said had met Ms Hawkins and her former husband “a few times” at race meetings in Leopardstown.

“Our company had a corporate box for clients to establish relationships and retain clients and I would have met them there along with other clients on race days,” said Mr Barrett.

He agreed with Mr Fogarty that brood mares which the couple owned were kept to breed foals and that the business of breeding was low risk compared to racing horses.

“It was an investment type situation,” confirmed Mr Barrett.

He also agreed with defence counsel that there were no insurance claims against Carol or John Hawkins through the insurance company.

Mr Clayton, who attended court earlier in the day, is expected to give evidence early next week.

The trial continues before Judge Patrick McCartan and a jury of seven men and five women. It is expected to last six weeks.