Part of the 360 tour was dedicated to her wasn't it?

 

I seem to remember people wearing cut out paper masks of her face, and Bono waffling on about it for what seemed

far too long tbh.

 

Still, it gave me time to sit down and rest the old legs during that particular time of the gig. B-)

 

 

Yes. It was just before Walk On if I remember. God love her. She is worthy without doubt but I took the opportunity to have a quick piddle when he started pontificating. I did go to the actual toilets first. Just in case you were wondering. :lol:

 

From

 

http://www.music-news.com/shownews.asp?H=B...p;nItemID=52670

 

 

Bono: 'We've had the best three weeks in the studio since 1979' :blink:

 

 

 

U2 front-man Bono last night declared that U2 are not sitting on their laurels after completing the most profitable tour in history last year but would have to pull out all the stops before releasing new material.

 

While being interviewed live on Irish television he stated 'as a band there's no sense of entitlement'.

 

The desire to continue creating music still burns strong in the band, referring to the other band members Bono declared "they're amazing men . . . they really, really want it".

 

He went on to hint that U2 would have to bring out nothing less than a masterpiece in order to continue. Perhaps alluding to the mixed critical and commercial reaction to their their last studio release, 2009's ' No Line on

the Horizon "Bono said that" I think they ( the other members of the group ) are very aware that U2 have to do something very special to have a reason to exist right now '.

 

However he also stated that the band is enjoying a very productive streak in the studio right now, "We've had the best three weeks in the studio since 1979".

 

Bono was being interviewed on the fiftieth anniversary edition of Ireland's Late Late Show, the longest running chat show in the world, which also featured other luminaries of the Irish music scene such as Imelda May and Sinead O'Connor who sang her most famous hit 'Nothing Compares to You' dressed as a priest. :wacko:

Bono: 'We've had the best three weeks in the studio since 1979'

 

Bono:-Weve-had-the-best-three-weeks-in-the-studio-since-1979 Email this story Printable version

 

U2 front-man Bono last night declared that U2 are not sitting on their laurels after completing the most profitable tour in history last year but would have to pull out all the stops before releasing new material.

 

While being interviewed live on Irish television he stated 'as a band there's no sense of entitlement'.

 

The desire to continue creating music still burns strong in the band, referring to the other band members Bono declared "they're amazing men . . . they really, really want it".

 

He went on to hint that U2 would have to bring out nothing less than a masterpiece in order to continue. Perhaps alluding to the mixed critical and commercial reaction to their their last studio release, 2009's ' No Line on

the Horizon "Bono said that" I think they ( the other members of the group ) are very aware that U2 have to do something very special to have a reason to exist right now '.

 

However he also stated that the band is enjoying a very productive streak in the studio right now, "We've had the best three weeks in the studio since 1979".

 

Bono was being interviewed on the fiftieth anniversary edition of Ireland's Late Late Show, the longest running chat show in the world, which also featured other luminaries of the Irish music scene such as Imelda May and Sinead O'Connor who sang her most famous hit 'Nothing Compares to You' dressed as a priest.

 

 

Source Musicnews.com

 

 

U2 need ‘something very special’ with new album

 

 

Posted on 04 Jun 2012 at 6:11am

 

U2 frontman Bono has said the band have just enjoyed their best studio sessions for thirty years as work begins on the follow-up to 2009′s ‘No Line On The Horizon‘ album.

 

In an interview with the long-running Irish TV programme The Late Late Show, Bono revealed that U2 have had ‘the best three weeks in the studio since 1979′, before adding that he and his bandmates are well aware of the need to produce ‘something very special’ with their thirteenth studio effort.

 

“I think they are very aware that U2 have to do something very special to have a reason to exist right now,” he said.

 

‘No Line On The Horizon’ sparked the mammoth 360 world tour, which began in June 2009 and later went on to be confirmed as the highest grossing concert tour of all time. It was finally wrapped up on July 30th 2011 at the Magnetic Hill Concert Site in Moncton, Canada after raking in well over $700,000,000 during its long run.

 

 

Source Live4Ever

PA 'embezzled 2.8 million euros from U2 bassist Adam Clayton'

 

 

A former personal assistant of U2's Adam Clayton earned his trust before being promoted to the role and embezzling 2.8 million euro of his funds, a court heard today.

U2 bass guitarist Adam Clayton (left) leaves Dublin Circuit Criminal Court with U2 manager Paul McGuinness where his former personal assistant, Carol Hawkins, will stand trial after pleading not guilty to the alleged embezzlement of 2.8 million euro of Clayton's funds

 

http://i50.tinypic.com/2rw2bgy.jpg

 

U2 bass guitarist Adam Clayton (left) leaves Dublin Circuit Criminal Court where his former personal assistant, Carol Hawkins (right), will stand trial Photo: PA

 

 

 

The Circuit Criminal Court in Dublin heard how the 48-year-old worked for Clayton for some 16 years, earning up to 48,000 euros a year and living rent free at his home.

 

She was initially employed as a housekeeper at the bassist's Georgian mansion - Danesmoate - in Rathfarnham, South Dublin, but quickly gained his trust and was promoted over the years to the role of personal assistant.

 

Prosecution barrister, senior counsel Colm O'Briain, told the jury of seven men and five women that Clayton appointed Ms Hawkins as signatory to a number of his bank accounts.

 

It was from two particular accounts - known as the Fitzwilliam account and the Danesmoate account - that she is accused of withdrawing a total 2.8 million euro over four years.

 

Clayton, dressed in a dark jacket and white shirt, sat intently at the back of the court as the prosecution opened its case.

 

Mr O'Briain said Ms Hawkins and her then husband John Hawkins, who had also been employed by Clayton as a driver, lived at the musician's Danesmoate home - where U2 recorded their album The Joshua Tree.

 

The property was refurbished during 2005 and Ms Hawkins and her husband were forced to move into another house, which Clayton picked up the monthly rent bill of around 2,600 euro.

 

The pair had also been paid a joint salary, taking in around 3,800 euro a month.

 

But Clayton continued to pay Ms Hawkins the full amount even after her marriage ended in 2007, eventually raising her monthly income to 4,080 - representing a net salary of around 48,000 euro, the barrister added.

 

Ms Hawkins, from Lower Rathmines Road in Dublin, denies all the charges.

 

The trial, before Judge Patrick McCartan, is expected to last six weeks.

 

Mr O'Briain described the case as "a grubby tale" involving a gross breach of trust.

 

He urged the jury not to be swayed by the fact that Clayton is famous and wealthy, saying no man deserves to be stolen from by someone he trusts.

 

"Mr Clayton employed Ms Hawkins from 1992. She lived in his own house for 13 or 14 years, he placed a substantial amount of trust in her," Mr O'Briain went on.

 

"Trust developed. He is no different from anyone else in respect of that. He is as entitled as any other to place his trust in people, to rely on that trust and to not go about his life thinking the worst of people."

 

Ms Hawkins is accused of stealing cheques from two bank accounts on which she was a signatory.

 

She allegedly withdrew 1.7 million euro (£1.1 million) from the Fitzwilliam account and 1.1 million euro (£889,400) from the Danesmoate account.

 

The funds were then placed in three separate accounts - her own personal account, a joint account between herself and her husband John and a Bank of Ireland Credit Card Services account.

 

Clayton will be called as a witness during the trial.

 

 

Telegraph UK

Edited June 10, 201213 yr by Marchhare

Ah yes. The dame who withdrew over 2 million quid from Adam's bank account and he never even noticed. :lol: Must be great to be so rich you don't even miss the odd million here and there....

Ah yes. The dame who withdrew over 2 million quid from Adam's bank account and he never even noticed. :lol: Must be great to be so rich you don't even miss the odd million here and there....

 

 

I find it hard to feel sorry for him tbh , imagine not missing 2 million :puke2:

I feel the exact same.... <_<

Adam’s €310k cheque ‘in PA’s account’ <_<

 

http://i50.tinypic.com/2418701.jpg

 

ADAM Clayton’s ex-personal assistant had a €310,000 cheque in his name lodged to her bank, it was claimed in court yesterday.

 

Carol Hawkins is on trial accused of embezzling €2.8million over four years while working for the U2 rocker.

 

Ms Hawkins, 48, of lower Rathmines Road, Dublin denies all 184 charges.

 

The Circuit Criminal Court was shown a trail of transfers, statements and lodgements.

 

One of these documents was a copy of a €310,000 cheque from Clayton’s bank and a lodgement slip showing the funds had been transferred into a joint account held by the defendant and her then husband John Hawkins.

 

Prosecution barrister Colm O’Briain said: “We have a copy of account opening documentation, bank statement copies, cheques, copies of lodgement documents used to lodge cheques into the account and a number of screen snapshots of international transfers.”

 

The trial continues today and is expected to last for six weeks

Edited June 12, 201213 yr by Jasmenia

184 charges? :lol:

 

She was very enthusiastic it seems....

Bono comforts Edge as he grieves over the death of his mum

 

 

 

 

BONO was among those comforting fellow U2 member the Edge yesterday following the death of his mother.

 

The rocker and his wife Ali Hewson met the U2 guitarist in Dublin's Dylan Hotel. The grieving Edge was seen entering the hotel, off Baggot Street, carrying a Bible, from which it is believed he was selecting scriptures for his mother's funeral service, which is due to take place later this week.

 

However, a U2 spokeswoman last night told the Irish Independent the service would be "an entirely private affair".

 

Gwenda Evans died on Monday after a short illness.

 

Born in Wales, Mrs Evans and her husband Garvin came to Ireland in the 1960s when Mr Evans, working with Plessey, transferred from London to run their Dublin factory in Swords.

 

The couple, who sang in the local choir, had been early supporters of U2.

 

Mrs Evans, a former primary school teacher, was in her late 70s. She is survived by her husband Garvin and children Dave (the Edge), Jill and Richard and grandchildren.

 

 

Irish Independent

 

Awwwww. Sad news. :cry:

Clayton PA trial hears of credit card spending

 

 

 

 

The former personal assistant to U2 star Adam Clayton spent almost €1.4m on a credit card held in her own name and the names of her two children between March 2004 and October 2008, the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has heard.

 

 

At the time, Ms Hawkins and her husband, who worked as a driver and caretaker for Mr Clayton, were on a joint salary of around €48,000.

 

Ms Hawkins, 48, of Lower Rathmines Road in Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to 181 counts of stealing cheques totalling almost €3m from Mr Clayton's bank accounts between 2004 and 2008.

 

The court heard evidence from Garda forensic accountant David McManus about expenditure from the credit card account Ms Hawkins held and from her personal bank account.

 

The jury was told there was an average of just over €300,000 being spent from the credit card account alone every year.

 

This included more than €330,000 in department stores, just over €225,000 on hotels and restaurants and more than €150,000 on airline tickets.

 

Mr McManus gave evidence in relation to the department stores that €70,000 in total had been spent in Marks & Spencer, €60,000 in Harvey Nichols, and €30,000 in Brown Thomas over the four year period.

 

He also gave details of €4,000 being spent in Bulgari on Fifth Avenue in New York, more than €3,000 being spent in Roberto Cavalli and almost €3,000 being spent in the Gucci Store.

 

Other stores included John Lewis in Oxford Street in London, Chanel, Escada and Manolo Blahnik.

 

There were payments to the Ritz Carlton Hotel in New York as well as other hotels and restaurants in the UK, US, France, Crete and Ireland, including around €7,000 to Shanahan's on the Green restaurant in Dublin.

 

The court was also told more than €400,000 in payments relating to horse training and horse care came out of Ms Hawkins' personal bank account between 2005 and 2006.

 

Yesterday, the court heard Ms Hawkins and her former husband owned up to 22 thoroughbred racehorses.

 

 

RTE.ie

http://www.irishcentral.com/news/Bono-on-S...-158849255.html

U2 guitarist could get a second chance at Malibu mansions

 

 

SACRAMENTO, Calif - The California Coastal Commission rejected a controversial proposal last year by U2 guitarist the Edge to build five mansions on a scenic bluff above Malibu, saying that it would scar a rugged ridgeline and harm sensitive habitat.

 

Now, some of the same powerful lobbyists and lawyers behind the musician's quashed development are working the halls of the Capitol to push a bill that could give the rock star another chance at his dream compound.

 

Full story here

Ireland welcomes Aung San Suu Kyi

 

 

http://i46.tinypic.com/2r216bs.jpg

 

 

Aung San Suu Kyi meets Irish Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore and U2 front man Bono. Credit: Press Association

 

Burma's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been awarded the freedom of the City of Dublin, more than twelve years after receiving the accolade.

 

Ms Suu Kyi arrived in Dublin this afternoon for a flying visit to Ireland. She was met by Irish deputy head of state Eamon Gilmore and Bono.

 

This evening rock star Bono and Sir Bob Geldof will later join famous human rights campaigners in a special tribute concert to honour Ms Suu Kyi. She will be presented with Amnesty International's prestigious Ambassador of Conscience award by the U2 front man.

 

 

Courtesy ITV News

Edited June 18, 201213 yr by Jasmena

Aung San Suu Kyi receives rock star welcome on stage with Bono in Ireland

 

 

 

 

 

Aung San Suu Kyi received a rock star welcome in Ireland Monday, with U2 singer Bono among those performing at a concert to honour the Burma democracy leader after flying in with her on his private jet.

 

6:34AM BST 19 Jun 2012

 

Nobel Peace laureate Suu Kyi took to the stage with Bono to receive a prize from Amnesty International at the rights group's "Electric Burma" concert in a packed Dublin theatre.

 

She was later given the freedom of the city of Dublin at a special ceremony and crowds joined in singing "Happy Birthday" as she was given a cake to mark her 67th birthday, which is on Tuesday.

 

Bono thanked Suu Kyi for being at the concert, saying: "We know there are many many other places you could be and we understand the signal your presence here sends out and we are humbled, we are grateful."

 

Suu Kyi sat alongside Bono – who has long supported Suu Kyi's freedom struggle and dedicated the song "Walk On" to her – after the pair travelled from Oslo, Norway, where they had co-hosted a peace forum.

 

"To receive this award is to remind me that 24 years ago I took on duties from which I shall never be relieved but you have given me the strength to carry out," Suu Kyi said in reply.

 

"I have discovered how much more people care. I had not expected this. I had not known how much they cared. This has come as a surprise to me and a very moving one."

 

The concert, attended by around 2,000 people, opened with Ireland's Riverdance troupe performing against an atmospheric set designed to look like a nocturnal beach scene.

 

Suu Kyi received Amnesty International's Ambassador of Conscience Award, the rights group's most prestigious prize, after performances from world artists including Benin singer Angelique Kidjo and US rapper Lupe Fiasco.

 

She won the award in 2009 but was under house arrest in Burma at the time so could not collect it.

 

The concert also featured a recorded message from Dave Lee Travis, the British DJ nicknamed the "Hairy Cornflake", who Suu Kyi has said kept her spirits up during her time under house arrest.

 

Burma comedian-activist Zarganar, another of the performers, said he spent almost 11 years in prison in his country "because of making jokes".

 

Bono, wearing his trademark black glasses, wrapped up the event with a performance of "Walk On", followed by U2's "One".

 

In Dublin, Suu Kyi also met with Irish President Michael D. Higgins.

 

After the concert at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, thousands of people turned out at an open-air event to see Suu Kyi given the Freedom of the City of Dublin, some 12 years after she was named for the honour.

 

The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Andrew Montague, paid tribute to "a democracy and human rights activist of world renown", promising Suu Kyi: "The Irish people will stand by you."

 

Suu Ky briefly thanked the crowds but warned them that the "troubles are not over yet" in Burma.

 

An emotional Suu Kyi delivered her Nobel lecture at Oslo City Hall on Saturday, more than two decades after the peace prize was awarded to her in 1991. She was unable to accept it at the time.

 

After visiting Ireland, Suu Kyi's 17-day European tour takes her to Britain on Tuesday.

 

She will celebrate her birthday with a family reunion in the southern English town of Oxford, where she studied at the prestigious university and lived for several years with the late Michael Aris, her English husband and father of her two sons.

 

Oxford University, where she studied politics, philosophy and economics, will award her with an honorary degree on Wednesday.

 

On Thursday, Suu Kyi is to address both houses of parliament in London as well as meet Prime Minister David Cameron and heir to the throne Prince Charles.

 

Suu Kyi's tour, which also takes in Switzerland and France, is her first trip to Europe for 24 years.

 

It has been clouded by continued violence in western Burma where dozens of people have been killed and more than 30,000 people displaced by clashes between Buddhist Rakhines and stateless Muslim Rohingya.

 

 

Telegraph

Edited June 19, 201213 yr by Jasmena

From

 

http://www.glasgowsouthandeastwoodextra.co...n-him-1-2370771

 

 

Clayton denies money spent on him

 

 

U2 star Adam Clayton has denied that money lodged in his former personal assistant's bank account was spent on him.

 

Carol Hawkins, 48, stands accused in court of embezzling 2.8 million euro of the bassist's funds. She's pleaded not guilty to stealing 181 cheques from Clayton and lodging money in her own account from 2004 to 2008.

 

Defence barrister, senior counsel Ken Fogarty, argued that money spent from Hawkins's accounts on lavish purchases, such as designer clothing and limousines, was for the musician's benefit. "I'm denying that," said Clayton during his second day on the witness stand at Dublin's Circuit Criminal Court in Dublin.

 

Under cross-examination, the U2 star said he never seen Hawkins wear designer shoes "with red soles" or expensive handbags "from Fifth Avenue".

 

He said it was not his job to speculate what the defendant spent the alleged stolen money on.

 

Mr Fogarty told the court that money spent from Hawkins's accounts was varied.

 

"There seems to be a list from the ordinary to the extraordinary of life: from Marks and Spencer to those places where they sell handbags in New York," he went on. "Have you ever seen her walking around with a pair of shoes with a red sole? Can you tell me if you ever saw handbags that cost a small fortune hanging off her arm?" Clayton said he had not.

 

The jury previously heard that Hawkins owned 22 horses. She also allegedly spent thousands on film and fashion education courses which Clayton suggested were for her children.

 

Hawkins worked for the bassist for 17 years from 1992. She was signatory to two of his bank accounts and was responsible for signing off on payments related to the star's south Dublin mansion Danesmoate, ranging from petty cash to larger refurbishment bills. The court earlier heard that she lodged the alleged stolen cheques in her personal bank account, a joint account with her then husband John Hawkins and a credit card account.

 

The hearing will resume on Monday.

 

 

Bono ‘humbled’ after meeting Aung San Suu Kyi

 

 

Aung San Suu Kyi received a rock star welcome in Ireland on Monday, with U2 singer Bono performing for the Burmese democracy icon, after flying in with her on his private jet.

 

The 67-year-old Nobel Peace laureate took to the stage with the singer to receive a prize from Amnesty International at the rights group’s “Electric Burma” concert in a packed Dublin theater.

 

Suu Kyi was met with cheers and a standing ovation.

 

“We know there are many, many other places you could be and we understand the signal your presence here sends out and we are humbled, we are grateful,” the New York Post quoted Bono as saying. Suu Kyi sat alongside Bono – who has since long supported her freedom struggle and dedicated the song ‘Walk On’ to her – after the two travelled from Oslo, Norway, where they had co-hosted a peace forum.

 

“To receive this award is to remind me that 24 years ago I took on duties from which I shall never be relieved but you have given me the strength to carry out,” Suu Kyi said in reply.

 

“I have discovered how much more people care. I had not expected this. I had not known how much they cared. This has come as a surprise to me and a very moving one,” she said.

 

The concert opened with Ireland’s Riverdance troupe performing against an atmospheric set designed to look like a nocturnal beach scene. Bono’s fellow rock star-activist Bob Geldof then took to the stage and said, “You actually honour us by being finally here with us.”

 

Suu Kyi received Amnesty International’s Ambassador of Conscience Award, the rights group’s most prestigious prize, after performances from world artists that included Benin singer Angelique Kidjo and US rapper Lupe Fiasco. daily times monitor

 

 

Daily Times.com

 

U2's Adam Clayton 'rattled' by PA's €15,000 spend

 

 

 

 

Sunday June 24 2012

 

U2 star Adam Clayton said he was "extremely rattled" and astounded when Carol Hawkins confessed that she had used nearly €15,000 of his money to pay for flights for herself.

 

The bass guitarist denied he had given Ms Hawkins authority to spend his money for her own benefit and also denied that she had made large purchases for his Danesmoate mansion, such as art and furnishings.

 

"I would buy the things I wanted around me. Carol Hawkins bought cornflakes," said Mr Clayton.

 

Mr Clayton, dressed in a navy jacket and grey shirt, was sworn in last Thursday at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to give evidence on Day 12 of the trial against Ms Hawkins, who is accused of embezzling nearly €3m of his money between 2004 and 2008.

 

Making himself comfortable in the witness box, Mr Clayton adjusted the microphone after Judge Patrick McCartan said: "You are used to the microphone, so, like all the others, I would ask you to speak into it."

 

Mr Clayton's reply of: "I'm more of a dum, dum, dum; I will practise my technique," caused a moment of laughter in the packed court room.

 

During his swearing in, Ms Hawkins cupped her chin in her left hand as she held her head down, continuing with her note-taking.

 

Ms Hawkins, 48, of Lower Rathmines Road, Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to 181 counts of theft totalling €2,869,274 from two of Mr Clayton's Bank of Ireland accounts between 2004 and 2008.

 

 

Sunday Independent

The rock star said he employed Ms Hawkins initially as his housekeeper as he was "fed up" coming home after touring to find his "electricity or phone cut off" as he lived alone. He met Carol and John when he was holidaying on a Caribbean island in 1992 when they ran a small hotel resort.

 

Ms Hawkins had expressed a desire to bring her two young children, Joe and Eleanor, back to Europe for school and he offered the couple a job running his home, as he wanted a constant presence while he was away touring and their experience would be beneficial to him.

 

The couple were on a joint salary of €48,000 a year net and lived rent-free at the musician's Rathfarnham mansion.

 

"My way of operating was quite simple -- the house was run by her and the U2 business ran everything else," Mr Clayton said.

 

He said it was his then financial adviser, Gabby Smith, who suggested Ms Hawkins take over his bookkeeping in "a minor way," and he gave her signing authority for cheques from his Danesmoate and Fitzwilliam accounts, which, he said, were to pay for household bills and expenses.

 

He said he was under the assumption Mr Smith was overseeing, analysing and monitoring Ms Hawkins's entries and compiling monthly reports from QuickBooks, an accounting system Mr Smith had trained her in to record all transactions from Mr Clayton's two accounts, as he himself has no accounting experience.

 

He said while his Danesmoate mansion was undergoing multi-million-euro renovations which began in 2004, it was his Steering group of accountants, financial advisers and project managers who approved payments for work done, and "Carol signed the cheques, that was pretty much her involvement".

 

He told of the moment he became "rattled" when Ms Hawkins broke the news to him in 2008 that she had spent some of his money on airline fights without his knowledge or prior agreement. This news sparked the investigation into further alleged irregularities in his accounts.

 

"She mentioned she was suicidal and had taken an overdose. I recommended she see a therapist. I said we would verify the amounts she had been claiming. She just eluded to the overall distress of the break-up of her marriage."

 

He said he was "taken aback" by this disclosure as he said it was completely out of character.

 

"On many occasions, she accused others of being greedy so I was surprised by it. I was extremely rattled by it. I asked Gabby Smith to be diligent that this was the only money gone missing and he claimed he was diligent and it wasn't €15,000, it was €13,000," he said.

 

He said after weighing up the long years of loyalty she gave him and took her at her word that it was a "momentary aberration at her upset", and did not terminate her employment, but removed her as a cheque signatory.

 

Ms Hawkins had agreed to pay back €500 a month for the €13,000 she had taken. Mr Clayton said in a letter to Ms Hawkins he sought the assurance from her that she had made a full disclosure of the money she had taken. Ms Hawkins agreed and there was no reference made to the 181 cheques.

 

Mr Clayton glanced down at Ms Hawkins while reaching inside his jacket pocket for his glasses. Ms Hawkins did not make eye contact with her former employer.

 

When asked by prosecuting counsel whether he had stayed in some of the hotels listed on Ms Hawkins's credit card statement, such as the Trump International or the Ritz Carton in New York, he said he had not.

 

He was told a total of €2,300 was spent on Ms Hawkins's credit card at a hotel in Cannes, to which he replied: "I had coffee once there on the terrace but I don't think I had that much coffee!"

 

He also said he never flew by Ryanair or Easyjet -- transactions for which appeared on Ms Hawkins's credit card statement. Under cross-examining by defence counsel Ken Fogarty, Mr Clayton denied the suggestion that she purchased items in her name with his money to protect his privacy and anonymity.

 

"The fact is she wrote cheques from my accounts and put them in her accounts," asserted Mr Clayton.

 

"There was no necessity for her to pay for things for me in her own name," he emphasised. He said he lives a perfectly normal, regular life when he is not working and he has "done shopping" for himself, when he was asked by Mr Fogarty if he accepted that he lived in a world that the "rest of us, lawyers, judge and jury members", could only observe.

 

He denied giving Ms Hawkins permission to spend his money educating her children.

 

He said it was not his concern how John was paying for the upkeep of the horse that he loaned him €20,000 to purchase. He was "absolutely astonished" when it was discovered a total of €434,000 was spent by Ms Hawkins on up to 22 horses she and her former husband owned.

 

He said his reaction was one of "amazement" when it was revealed Ms Hawkins owned a €345,000 apartment in New York. "I had no idea Carol had that kind of financial resources."

 

He objected with defence counsel that Ms Hawkins became "indentured to him as a bond servant".

 

He said the "time-frame" of the alleged charges makes no difference. "I never sanctioned her to write cheques to herself. It's my money," he said.

 

The trial continues before Judge Patrick McCartan and a jury of seven men and five women.

 

- Nicola Donnelly