U2 bassist's assistant guilty of 2.8 million euro theft

DUBLIN: A former personal assistant of U2 bassist Adam Clayton was found guilty on Friday of stealing 2.8 million euros ($3.5 million) from the Irish musician's bank accounts.

Carol Hawkins, 48, was convicted of 181 counts of stealing cheques from the 52-year-old between 2004 and 2008, Irish media reported.

She transferred the cash to her own bank accounts from two of Clayton's accounts on which she was a signatory.

She used the money to finance a lavish lifestyle, including 22 horses, exotic holidays and a designer wardrobe, the Irish Examiner reported.

Hawkins was living rent-free at Clayton's home at the time and earning a salary that eventually rose to 48,000 euros ($60,000) a year.

The jury delivered unanimous guilty verdicts against Hawkins on all counts after deliberating for more than five hours, the Examiner said.

"The evidence in this case was overwhelming," judge Patrick McCartan told the jury at Dublin's Circuit Criminal Court, according to the newspaper.

"Nobody could seriously disagree with the verdict you have given."

Hawkins will remain on bail and be sentenced on July 6.

Hawkins was originally a housekeeper at Clayton's Dublin mansion, Danesmoate House, but quickly gained his trust and was promoted to personal assistant and moved to live at his home, the court heard.

U2, one of the world's biggest-selling bands, recorded their hit album "The Joshua Tree" at Danesmoate House.