Gardaí say the victim met the defendants after contact through Grindr and WhatsApp. The teens appeared in Dublin Children’s Court as the judge ordered linked robbery charges to stand; community groups raised safety concerns for LGBTQ+ people.
Garda evidence presented at the Dublin Children’s Court includes alleged Grindr contact, WhatsApp calls, CCTV of a meeting, labels on phones such as 'Prey two', theft of items and subsequent card use.
Witness statements describe a group encounter, an assault involving kicks and punches, one teen filming part of the attack, and alleged slurs directed at the victim.
Two 17-year-olds are due to stand trial accused of murdering and robbing Alex Coughlan, 37, after an incident in Blanchardstown on 17 May 2026. Gardaí say Coughlan suffered head injuries and external neck compression and died three days later in Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown.
At a hearing in Dublin Children's Court before Judge Shalom Binchy, Garda Sergeant Paul McMahon outlined the evidence police want to rely on. Gardaí say Coughlan met the two defendants at about 4:15pm on 17 May and was then attacked. A post-mortem is said to have recorded head injuries and external neck compression as causes of death.
Communications and digital evidence
Gardaí told the court that about 45 minutes before the assault Coughlan spoke for nearly eight minutes with one of the teens via WhatsApp. An examination of one youth's phone reportedly showed contact with Coughlan through Grindr the day before the attack. The victim's number was allegedly saved on that phone as 'Prey two'. Other contacts were said to be labelled 'Preyy' and 'Prey'.
CCTV footage was described as showing the defendants meeting Coughlan then moving to a more secluded area where the assault occurred. Multiple eyewitness statements were read to the court.
Gardaí also say one of the teens filmed part of the attack on his phone. Investigators allege one youth gave another the number for a contact labelled 'Preyy' to send two videos.
Outhouse LGBTQ+ Centre highlighted concern about the safety of LGBTQ+ people in Ireland following the proceedings. CEO Oisin O'Reilly said Coughlan's death has caused distress in the community and called for action to address hate, intimidation, and community safety. The article noted Grindr as a widely used location-based dating app that has been connected to safety issues such as harassment and extortion in other cases.
The reporting connects this case to earlier incidents in the UK where alleged lures via dating apps preceded fatal attacks. The matter will proceed to the Central Criminal Court for trial where the full evidence will be tested.
The court heard allegations that the two boys had arranged a meeting with Alex Coughlan, who died three days after being assaulted in Blanchardstown.
Court told ‘Youth One’ allegedly had deceased’s phone number saved on his device under contact name ‘Prey two’
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