Jurors didn’t take long to find what they were looking for — evidence that U2 bassist Adam Clayton lost $3.6 million to a crooked assistant.
A Dublin criminal court convicted Clayton’s onetime personal aide of massive embezzlement, in a scheme that stretched between 2004 and 2008.
The assistant, Carol Hawkins, 48, sat impassively as the seven-man, five-woman jury called her guilty 181 times late last week, matching the number of checks she signed to herself from the famed rocker.
Jurors heard from 20 witnesses during 18 days of trial, but deliberated for only five hours before voting to convict.
As he left court following the convictions, Clayton praised jurors and cops.
“I welcome today’s outcome and I wish to thank the jury, [Irish police] and all those involved in the case,” said Clayton, who declined to answer questions. “I would like to thank my family, friends and colleagues for their support.”
Hawkins treated herself to huge shopping sprees and luxurious vacations, prosecutors said.
Hawkins even stole enough money to buy and maintain 22 thoroughbred racehorses and a New York apartment, The Irish Times reported.
She will be sentenced Friday and faces up to 10 years behind bars.
Hawkins insisted she wrote the 181 checks to herself because all of Clayton’s expenses were on her personal credit cards.
The defense claimed Clayton desired this system to keep his spending habits private.
With Amber Sutherland and Post Wire Services