Paul Moy, the father of murdered teenager Kayden Moy, has called for accountability after it emerged that two of the three young men convicted of killing his son were already under social work supervision at the time of the attack. Kayden, 16, died after being stabbed during a clash between rival groups of youths on Irvine beach on 17 May 2025. Moy, from East Kilbride, says he believes his son's death could have been prevented had South Lanarkshire Council acted sooner on warning signs.
Cole Turley, 18, and Jay Stewart, 19, were sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 16 years each for Kayden's murder. A third attacker, who was 15 at the time and cannot be named for legal reasons, was ordered to be detained for at least 14 years.
What happened on Irvine beach?
According to court proceedings, Kayden was chased and stabbed by Stewart and the then-15-year-old while Turley acted alongside them, after he fell to the ground during the confrontation. Police Scotland has said Kayden died in hospital after being stabbed, and a broadcaster's report stated he suffered a second cardiac arrest and died at 11.33pm, with the cause of death recorded as a stab wound to the trunk.
Officers investigating the case have also said that Turley, Stewart and the then-14-year-old returned to East Kilbride after the attack and disposed of the knife and blood-stained clothing, according to Police Scotland. Police had earlier described the killing as a targeted attack that posed no wider threat to the public, according to an earlier report.
Why were the killers already known to social services?
Jay Stewart had a history of convictions and involvement with the Children's Hearings system. He had two prior convictions, including one covering various charges such as possession of a knife in a public place and possession of a metal pole during a threatening and abusive incident. At the time of Kayden's murder, he was serving a structured deferred sentence for that offence.
His second conviction, dated 22 April 2025, related to possession of a machete in a public place. Stewart was handed a community payback order for that offence just four days before he took part in killing Kayden. Separately, the 15-year-old co-accused had been placed on a Compulsory Supervision Order in January 2025 — a legal mechanism issued by a Children's Hearing or a sheriff that obliges a young person to comply with set conditions while the local authority provides ongoing care and social work oversight.
Moy argues these measures should have prevented further offending.
Social services are supposed to have a duty of care not just for the offenders but all the safety of all the other kids on the streets too.
If somebody commits a certain amount of offences and continues to re-offend then someone needs to step in.
The red flags were there and they were ignored. Someone in the social work department wasn't doing their job.
It's a total failure from the system, it's a failure to me and Kayden and our whole family. We've been completely let down.
A South Lanarkshire Council spokesperson responded:
This has been a tragic event, and our profound sympathies continue to go out to Kayden's loved ones.
How did the attack unfold in court testimony?
Evidence presented at trial showed Stewart brandishing a baton and shouting "Murray Boys" during the confrontation, before telling a witness at the scene that his victim "deserved it." After fleeing, Turley pushed the knife into the grass and was overheard boasting that he "just done him," also shouting "One-nil." CCTV footage captured the three running down a road near the beach, pausing briefly to embrace one another.
Passing sentence, Judge Lord Scott described Kayden's death as "pointless and unnecessary," adding that the attackers had "travelled to Irvine, armed, intent on a reprisal for some slight." He further remarked:
It could have been anyone but Kayden slipped and fell.
According to Police Scotland, Turley pleaded guilty to murder on 18 May 2026, ahead of Stewart and the 15-year-old, who were convicted following a trial, as detailed in the force's statement. Weeks after sentencing, Stewart posted a video from HMP Polmont on Snapchat in which he appeared topless and masked, rapping about the killing and claiming he would act violently again once released.
What has the council and government said?
Moy, who has since met First Minister John Swinney to raise his concerns, said he wants those responsible for oversight failures held to account.
I truly believe this could have been prevented and I will do everything I can to make sure another family doesn't go through this.
Nothing can bring Kayden back. I'm not looking for excuses, I'm looking for answers and to find the person who is also partially accountable for Kayden's death.
All I want now is answers from this.
Swinney said he was grateful to Kayden's parents for meeting him, describing the family's ordeal in strong terms.
To lose a child in such horrific circumstances is unthinkable and Kayden's entire family continue to be in my thoughts as they show such immense strength in the face of this tragedy.
The justice secretary and I listened carefully to the points Kayden's parents made, particularly around reoffending and the dangers of carrying a weapon.
Where there are lessons to be learned and potential policy legislative changes that the government can make, we will consider those fully.
The first minister said he would update Kayden's parents on the issues raised and offered to meet them again in future.
What happens next?
Cole Turley, the only one of the three convicted to have pleaded guilty to murder, has lodged an appeal against his life sentence, according to a broadcaster's report. The outcome of that appeal is expected to determine whether his minimum term stands.
Key Facts
- Kayden Moy, 16, was fatally stabbed on Irvine beach on 17 May 2025 during a confrontation between rival groups.
- Cole Turley and Jay Stewart were each jailed for life with a minimum of 16 years; a 15-year-old co-accused was detained for at least 14 years.
- Stewart and the 15-year-old were both under social work or court supervision at the time of the killing.
- Police say the attackers returned to East Kilbride afterwards and disposed of the knife and blood-stained clothing.
- Turley has lodged an appeal against his life sentence.
