The former personal assistant of Adam Clayton, accused of stealing nearly €3 million from the U2 band member, spent almost €1.5 million on her credit card over a four-year period, a court has heard.
Carol Hawkins (48) paid out more than €434,000 in horse- related expenses from her personal bank account to stud farms and trainers in America and Britain, a forensic accountant told the court.
Ms Hawkins, 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 between 2004 and 2008. The alleged thefts totalled €2,869,274.
The trial continues before Judge Patrick McCartan and a jury and is set to last another five weeks.