Work From Home: 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 throughout sentencing
"Nothing, frankly, may provide an explanation for away the size of this dishonesty," the pass judgement on adds
Hawkins is convicted of 181 counts of robbery from Clayton's financial institution bills 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 closing week of 181 counts of robbery from Clayton's financial institution debts over a four-year duration even as she labored for him.

The jury on the Circuit Felony Court docket in Dublin was instructed that Hawkins embezzled the cash to fund a lavish lifestyle, together with luxurious holidays, cars, buying groceries at fashion designer boutiques in Ny and purchasing 22 horses.

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

"Nothing, frankly, may just provide an explanation for away the dimensions of this dishonesty rather then the greed in pursuit of a lavish way of life that was no accountability of Mr. Clayton's," the pass judgement on said.

The pass judgement on additionally ordered that the proceeds of a sale of an condominium in Ny 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 firstly from England however lives in Dublin, has insisted on her innocence.

The court docket was instructed that the mummy of 2 had won the musician's "absolute consider" in the course of the 17 years she labored for him.

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

Jurors had been instructed 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 the beginning hired as a housekeeper for Clayton in 1992 however her tasks ultimately advanced to incorporate serving to to deal with Clayton's accounts.

CNN's Michael Martinez contributed to this report.

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