Murdered teen Kayden Moy's father has blasted the justice system after the Record reported claims that chances were missed to stop his killers. Cole Turley and Jay Stewart, both 18, and a 15-year-old boy who cannot be named for legal reasons, were recently convicted over 16-year-old Kayden's death at Irvine beach last summer. The trio belonged to the notorious 'Murray Boys' blade gang who terrorized kids and their families for years before carrying out their brutal murder.
Father's Outrage
Paul Moy said his son's death was far from an 'unavoidable tragedy' and slammed the authorities who failed to lock up the vicious thugs despite their consistent offending. Speaking to the Record, he said: "Everyone in the town knew it was only a matter of time before this gang killed someone. My son was murdered by individuals who were already well known to the authorities. They had accumulated numerous charges for a long history of violent and antisocial behavior, yet they remained free to continue terrorizing our community. The warning signs were there, the concerns had been raised, and their behavior was no secret, but they were repeatedly allowed to remain on the streets. As a family, we are left asking difficult questions. How were these individuals allowed to continue offending?"
Previous Attacks
The grieving dad spoke out after we reported on Wednesday that one local woman told how her young daughters were bottled and battered by Turley and Stewart the year before they killed Kayden. The mother, who asked to remain anonymous over fears for her family's safety, reported that one of her girls was glassed in the head with a vodka bottle by Turley in April 2024, before another daughter was beaten in a park by a gang led by Stewart just three months later. Images shared with the Record showed the girls left bloodied and bruised with clumps of hair pulled from their scalps. The mother said cops were called to the hospital on both occasions, but the hoods were soon back rampaging on the streets.
Call for Accountability
Paul continued: "There were opportunities to intervene. Why were they missed? What actions were taken by the agencies responsible for safeguarding the public? Social services, youth offending teams and other agencies involved in their care and supervision must answer for the decisions that were made. If these individuals were known to be causing harm and escalating in violence, then there needs to be a full and transparent examination of how they were allowed to continue offending until a life was taken. Nothing will bring Kayden back. No explanation can undo the pain and devastation that our family now lives with every day. But there must be accountability. We owe it to my son, and to every family who deserves to feel safe, to understand what went wrong and to ensure that no other family has to suffer the same loss. Kayden should still be here today. His life mattered, and his death must not be treated as an unavoidable tragedy when there were clear opportunities to prevent it."
Demand for Reform
Paul believes reform is required in Scotland's approach to youths carrying knives. He is demanding that more powers are given to police officers to stop and search violent gangs. It was heard in court that Jay Stewart had been slapped with a community payback order for carrying a machete just four days before Kayden was murdered. The father believes if there were serious consequences for possession of a knife, then it would make young people think twice. He continued: "Police have limited powers nowadays on stopping and searching youths and that should be changed. Youths carrying a knife should also automatically be locked up in secure care or a young offenders institution. If they had to face the consequences of carrying a knife then that might have stopped them. But it seems like they went around unchallenged for years."
Gang Activity
Last week, the Record told how social media images captured the "Murray Boys" gang roaming the streets wielding blades and Buckfast bottles in the lead up to Kayden's murder. We also reported that the youngest teen killer comes from a family of criminals involved in gangland shootings and drugs. Following the verdict, Kayden's parents, Paul and Ashley said: "Kayden was an amazing, caring boy who lit up every room he walked into. Every morning we wake up and are faced again with the reality that he is gone. We will never hear his laugh again, never see his smile, never watch him achieve the goals he worked so hard for." The teenager killers are due to be sentenced later this month.
Authorities Respond
Police Scotland Chief Inspector Paul Doyle said: "We care deeply about violence and how it affects individuals, families and our communities. Addressing the harmful effects of violent crime and supporting victims is a priority for our officers. We have dedicated community-based officers who work alongside our response officers whilst being supported by specialist officers. Our officers are on duty 24 hours a day, every day of the year to keep people safe. It is worth stressing that the vast majority of young people do not come to the attention of police but we know that a small minority do sometimes become involved in criminal or anti-social behavior and their actions can have a negative impact on the lives of local residents. We are committed to encouraging people away from this kind of behavior but will always take appropriate action where incidents are reported and offenders identified." A South Lanarkshire Council spokesman said: "This has been a tragic event, and our profound sympathies go out to Kayden's loved ones." The Crown Office and Scottish Children's Reporter Administration declined to comment.
