Courts / Dublin / Report

Serial hotel robber who fled country for 20 years gets suspended sentence

Date
2026-03-23

Stage
Appeal

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Darren White, 49, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 13 counts of cash robbery at Dublin City hotels between August and December 2005 and one count of robbery of a Londis shop in 2006. The validated procedural stage is an appeal. White had previously pleaded guilty to the first count in May 2007 and was granted bail, but he failed to appear for sentencing and travelled to the UK. He was apprehended in April 2025 following a road traffic matter. Judge Martina Baxter noted that White had rehabilitated, raised a family, and engaged in community work. She determined that a custodial term was not appropriate given the breadth of his rehabilitation. The court imposed a 10-year sentence, which was suspended for 10 years, and ordered White to carry out 240 hours of community service. The matter was adjourned.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Serial hotel robber who fled country for 20 years gets suspended sentence. Charges or matters: 13 counts of cash robbery at Dublin City hotels between August and December 2005 and to one count of robbery of a Londis shop the following year; the first count in May 2007 and was granted bail. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

December 2005 Hearing Or Sentence
May 2007 Hearing Or Sentence
April 2025 Hearing Or Sentence
August 8, 2005 Hearing Or Sentence
August 13 Other
September 6 Other
September 11 Other
May 21, 2006 Incident
May 29 Incident
July 2007 Hearing Or Sentence
September 2005 Incident
2014 and 2016 Other
2026-03-23 Publication

Why: Gda Cunningham explained that, for the most part, White had engaged with the receptionists, enquiring about rooms and telling them he was in Dublin to erect lighting for concerts. CNI source report

Case subjects

Darren White

Defendant

Charges: 13 counts of cash robbery at Dublin City hotels between August and December 2005 and to one count of robbery of a Londis shop the following year; the first count in May 2007 and was granted bail (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Judge Baxter said after pleading guilty to the offences, White failed to appear on his sentence date and instead travelled to the UK, before returning some years later and starting a family. Judge Baxter said that this point in time a custodial term was not appropriate, having regard to the breath of his rehabilitation, and imposed a 10-year sentence, which she suspended for 10 years and ordered White to carry out 240 hours community service.