Two men jailed for horrific burglary in Athlone after 'two-day bender'

Tom Tuite

Two friends have been jailed after forcing entry into sheltered accommodation in Athlone and subjecting a vulnerable man to what was described as a savage beating after a "two-day bender".

Joseph White (37) and Kevin Stephens (40) pleaded guilty at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court to the burglary which happened on November 27th 2024.

They received five-year sentences, with Judge Keenan Johnson suspending the final 18 months in the case of Stephens, who was on bail for other offences at the time, and the last two and a half years for the less culpable attacker, White.

Jailing them, the Judge stated that the court had to send out a message to deter others.

Detective Garda John Divilly said the victim was in recovery and had been provided with accommodation in the Co Westmeath town by the Simon Community.

At around 9.30 pm, he heard a knock and, thinking it was a friend, he answered the door.

At that point, he heard someone saying, "'Hey, hey', as if they were his friends."

Stephens of Brawny Square and White, formerly of Ashdale, both in Athlone, pushed past him and went upstairs, saying, "Let us drink here".

He was not allowed visitors at his accommodation.

A scuffle broke out in the victim's living room, and he was beaten with punches and kicks to his head. Ten minutes later, he fled and returned when they had left his home.

He was bruised and cut; the judge described photos of his injuries as "quite horrific".

He later told gardaí that he only knew them from seeing them around the town.

Neither attacker recalled the incident but said they were friends with the victim and expressed remorse.

Stephens had 63 prior convictions, including 11 burglaries, three assaults and drug offences from 2003 until 2025.

White had 30 prior offences committed between June 2007 and November 2025, including one burglary, a single assault and a litany of public order and criminal damage offences.

He left school early and spent the better part of adult life coping with alcohol and drug addiction, the court heard. He is also awaiting extradition to Northern Ireland.

CCTV evidence showed the pair carrying beer and staggering outside the victim's building before barging their way past him.

When he first saw the video, White, a separated father-of-five, replied, "I'm shocked that isn't me? Is it?"

In mitigation, the defence submitted that Stephens's partner died two and a half months before this incident, and he relapsed on alcohol, which was the catalyst for this offence.

White, who later moved to a charity that provided accommodation in Longford, had been homeless at the time of the burglary.

He has been attending counselling for alcoholism and getting treatment for anxiety while also trying to reconcile with his family and engaging in a training course.

They were ordered to have no contact with the victim, to obey a range of conditions, and to undergo supervision for five years post-release, or the court will activate the suspended portions of their jail terms.