U2 star Adam Clayton is expected to give evidence in his former personal assistant's theft case in Dublin, Ireland on Thursday.

Carol Hawkins stands accused of stealing almost $3.8 million from the rock star between 2004 and 2008.

Hawkins faces 181 counts of theft.

Clayton was in court with U2's manager Paul McGuinness as the trial got underway at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on Wednesday.

He sat silently in the public gallery as the court registrar listed the charges against his former assistant - a process that took almost two hours, and watched as Judge Patrick McCartan swore in the members of the jury.

The trial is expected to last up to six weeks.