Properties of hypernuclei 5ΛΛ H and 5 ΛΛ He are studied in a two-channel approach with explicit treatment of coupling of channels 3 Z + Λ + Λ and α + Ξ. Diagonal ΛΛ and coupling ΛΛ − ΞN interactions are derived within G-matrix procedure from Nijmegen meson-exchange models. Bond energy ∆BΛΛ in 5 ΛΛ He exceeds significantly that in 5 ΛΛ H due to the channel coupling. Diagonal Ξα attraction amplifies the effect, which is sensitive also to Λ-core interaction. The difference of the ∆BΛΛ values can be an unambiguous signature of the ΛΛ − ΞN coupling in ΛΛ hypernuclei. However, improved knowledge of the hyperon-nucleus potentials is needed for quantitative extraction of the coupling strength from future data on the ΛΛ hypernuclear binding energies.