Sign up to The Irish Times Archive (1859 - 2008)My Account »

U2 GUITARIST Adam Clayton has sued his bankers and accountants for negligence arising from claims his former personal assistant Carol Hawkins misappropriated more than €4 million from his bank accounts over five years up to November 2009.

Mr Clayton claims his accountants had assured him in September 2008 the sum misappropriated was about €13,585 when at that stage it was about €4.4 million. He also claims, after Ms Hawkins allegedly admitted misappropriating what she said was about €15,000 in September 2008 as a result of what she said was great stress from a marriage break-up, and as his accountants assured him it was €13,585, he had kept her in his employment but also instructed his accountants to ensure she would not have access to his accounts.