A personal assistant accused of embezzling over $3.5million from U2 bassist Adam Clayton is to go on trial in Dublin on Wednesday.

Carol Hawkins, a 48-year-old who worked as Clayton’s PA for a number of years, has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

She has been charged with 184 counts of theft from a number of bank accounts held by her employer.
Police allege that Hawkins helped herself to the huge sums of money between 2004 and 2008 before Clayton noticed it was missing.

Dublin’s Circuit Criminal Court heard on Wednesday that on one day in 2007 she allegedly made a single withdrawal of $400,000. The rest of the transactions ranged in value from $1300 to $45,000.

The case has attracted huge media interest. Hawkins, who lived in the bass player’s house when he was on tour, has pleaded not guilty to every count.

The 42-year-old Clayton will be called as a witness when the case gets underway on Thursday.

He sat through Wednesday’s initial proceedings with U2 manager Paul McGuinness by is side in the public gallery of the courtroom.

A jury has been appointed by Judge Patrick McCartan who has indicated that the trial could take up to six weeks.

The charges claim that Hawkins stole Bank of Ireland cheques from Clayton and withdrew funds in favor of Bank of Ireland credit card services.