Extra Income: U2 aide jailed for embezzling $3M

By Peter Taggart, for CNN

July 8, 2012 -- Up to date 0110 GMT (0910 HKT)

Adam Clayton wasn't in court docket for the sentencing of his former aide, however he gave proof for the prosecution.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Carol Hawkins, 49, was the private assistant to U2's Adam Clayton
"These had been crimes rooted in greed and not anything else," the pass judgement on says all through sentencing
"Nothing, frankly, may just give an explanation for away the dimensions of this dishonesty," the pass judgement on adds
Hawkins is convicted of 181 counts of robbery from Clayton's financial institution money owed over 4 years

Dublin, Eire (CNN) -- The previous private assistant of Adam Clayton of the Irish rock band U2 was sentenced Friday to seven years in jail for stealing 2.8 million euros (approximately $3.45 million) of Clayton's money.

Carol Hawkins, 49, was convicted remaining week of 181 counts of robbery from Clayton's financial institution bills over a four-year length whilst she labored for him.

The jury on the Circuit Prison Courtroom in Dublin was informed that Hawkins embezzled the cash to fund a lavish lifestyle, together with luxurious holidays, cars, buying groceries at dressmaker boutiques in Big apple and purchasing 22 horses.

In the sentencing, Pass judgement on Patrick McCartan stated that "those have been crimes rooted in greed and not anything else."

"Nothing, frankly, may just give an explanation for away the size of this dishonesty instead of the greed in pursuit of a lavish way of life that was no duty of Mr. Clayton's," the pass judgement on said.

The pass judgement on additionally ordered that the proceeds of a sale of an condo in Big apple purchased by Hawkins be passed over to Clayton.

Clayton -- the bass guitarist with U2 -- wasn't in court docket for sentencing however had given proof for the prosecution throughout the case.

Hawkins, who's initially from England however lives in Dublin, has insisted on her innocence.

The court docket was informed that the mummy of 2 had received the musician's "absolute accept as true with" in the course of the 17 years she labored for him.

However, her deception emerged in 2008 whilst she confessed to reserving herself flights value virtually $19,000 on his account to go to her kids within the Usa and London.

Jurors have been advised that Hawkins was a signatory on of Clayton's financial institution money owed and wrote 181 tests to deposit into her personal accounts.

She was at first hired as a housekeeper for Clayton in 1992 however her tasks in the end developed to incorporate serving to to deal with Clayton's accounts.

CNN's Michael Martinez contributed to this report.

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