Liverpool Parade: Paul Doyle Jailed 21 Years for Ramming Celebrating Fans
A man has been sentenced to 21 years and six months in prison for injuring 134 people during a Liverpool parade. Paul Doyle, 54, drove his Ford Galaxy into crowds celebrating Liverpool’s Premier League victory on May 26. This reckless act occurred around 6 PM as he made his way to the city center to collect friends.
Incident Overview
On that day, many supporters were exiting the celebrations when Doyle lost control and rammed his vehicle into them. Dashcam footage revealed the horrifying moments as fans were flung onto the car’s hood or thrown beneath it as he accelerated along Water Street, closed to traffic for the event.
Court Proceedings
- Doyle initially denied 31 offenses.
- In an unexpected turn, he changed his plea before his trial began.
- He pleaded guilty to several serious charges, including:
- Dangerous driving
- Affray
- 17 counts of attempted grievous bodily harm (GBH)
- 9 counts of causing GBH with intent
- 3 counts of wounding with intent
Victims and Destruction
Among the injured were individuals ranging from just six months to 77 years old. Some were seriously hurt, and the judge described the chaos as “horror and devastation on a scale not previously encountered by this court.” Judge Andrew Menary KC criticized Doyle’s actions, declaring them incomprehensible.
Driving Behavior
During the incident, Doyle displayed reckless driving by undertaking other vehicles and running a red light. Footage captured him swearing at pedestrians as they scrambled to protect themselves, including children.
Arrest and Investigation
The vehicle stopped only after fan Dan Barr intervened, blocking the gearshift from changing. Despite Doyle’s claims of being threatened by someone with a knife, police found no evidence supporting this. Investigations also confirmed that Doyle was neither intoxicated nor had any malfunctions with his car.
The Aftermath
Following the attack, James Allison from the Crown Prosecution Service noted that Doyle acted out of rage, disregarding the lives around him. Detective Chief Inspector John Fitzgerald emphasized the gravity of Doyle’s actions, particularly considering the number of children present, expressing relief that no lives were lost.
