Adam Clayton's former personal assistant Carol Hawkins has lost her appeal against her conviction for theft from the U2 guitarist.

The court will give its decision in the next few days on her appeal against the severity of the seven-year sentence imposed on her by Judge Patrick McCartan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in July 2012.

Hawkins, 51, originally from north London but with a last address at Lower Rathmines Road in Dublin, was convicted of 181 counts of theft from two of the bass guitarist's Bank of Ireland accounts between 2004 and 2008, totalling €2,869,274.

She used the money to purchase and maintain 22 thoroughbred racehorses, a €310,000 New York apartment, holidays, education for her children and shopping sprees.

She also spent €1.4 million on her credit card funded from Mr Clayton's accounts.

She denied the charges and appealed against both conviction and severity of the sentence imposed.

The Court of Criminal Appeal, composed of Mr Justice Peter Charleton, presiding alongside Mr Justice Michael Moriarty and Mr Justice Peter Kelly, this morning upheld the conviction and dismissed all grounds of the appeal.

Lawyers for Hawkins had argued that her conviction was unsafe on grounds including that there were inadequacies in the disclosure process of her trial, the refusal to exclude witnesses from court during cross-examination and the admission of prejudicial evidence against her.

The Director of Public Prosecutions opposed the appeal and argued that both conviction and sentence should remain undisturbed.

Hawkins was not present in court for the ruling.