A court has heard how a moment of rage turned a day of celebration into one of trauma for families across Liverpool. Judges were told a driver deliberately forced his way through crowds during a Premier League victory parade, injuring victims from infancy to old age.
A man who drove his vehicle into a crowd of Liverpool FC supporters during their Premier League victory parade has been sentenced to over 21 years in prison. The incident occurred as fans were walking home from the celebration, resulting in 134 injuries among those gathered. The 54-year-old driver, Paul Doyle, plowed through crowds on Dale Street and Water Street, accelerating into supporters and causing some to be thrown onto the vehicle's bonnet or knocked beneath the car. John Fitzgerald of Merseyside Police described the actions as deplorable, noting that the victims included women, children, and the elderly who were caught in the path of the vehicle.
Doyle, a former Royal Marine, initially denied 31 offenses. However, just before his trial was scheduled to begin, he changed his pleas, admitting to dangerous driving, 17 counts of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent, nine counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, and three counts of wounding with intent.
During the sentencing, Judge Andrew Menary noted that Doyle acted in an inexplicable and undiluted fury, emphasizing the immense horror and devastation caused by his actions, which was unprecedented in the court's experience.
Key evidence presented during the sentencing included dashcam footage from inside Doyle’s car. The footage showed him approaching a line of traffic on Dale Street before swerving into the left lane, which was crowded with fans returning from the celebrations. In the footage, Doyle could be heard shouting and swearing at pedestrians to move out of the way. Investigators revealed that the footage of the incident was not released to the public due to its graphic nature. During the chaotic scene, a member of the public named Daniel Barr intervened.
Prosecutors described Barr as a hero for bravely jumping into the back of Doyle's car and successfully putting the vehicle into park, effectively bringing the attack to an end. Fitzgerald, reflecting on his 20-year career with Merseyside Police, described the footage as the most distressing and graphic he had ever encountered. He noted that the victims of the attack continue to suffer from both physical and psychological trauma, expressing a hope that the long prison sentence will provide some measure of closure to those affected.
