The former personal assistant of Adam Clayton accused of stealing almost €3 million from him had no authority to write cheques to herself or to her family members, a court heard yesterday.
Her trial heard evidence from an investigating garda that Carol Hawkins’s role as signatory on two of Mr Clayton’s bank accounts was that she had the “authority to write cheques on his behalf for legitimate expenses”.
Ms Hawkins (48), 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 €2,862,567.
Det Sgt Clodagh White of the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation told defence counsel Kenneth Fogarty SC: “There were no circumstances where she would have to write cheques to herself or her family.”
Mr Clayton, who attended the first two days of the proceedings, is expected to give evidence later.
The trial continues before a jury and is expected to last six weeks.