The 54-year-old tearfully pleaded guilty to a total of 31 charges on the day he was due to stand trial
Paul Doyle(Image: Facebook)
Paul Doyle will appear in court for sentencing today after causing scenes of carnage during Liverpool FC’s Premier League title parade. The 54-year-old, of Burghill Road in West Derby, admitted a total of 31 charges last month, having driven his car into crowds of fans during the celebrations earlier this year.
More than 100 pedestrians, ranging from babies to a 78-year-old woman, were injured after being struck by the Ford Galaxy on Water Street in Liverpool city centre shortly after 6pm on Monday, May 26, as what was meant to be a day of joy turned into scenes of devastation and terror. Fifty casualties required hospital treatment in the aftermath of the appalling incident.
Doyle tearfully changed his pleas to guilty on the day he was due to go on trial at Liverpool Crown Court, with his sentencing now due to take place over the course of two days on Monday and Tuesday. Further remanding him into custody until today’s date, the Honorary Recorder of Liverpool Judge Andrew Menary KC previously told him: “Plainly, it is inevitable that there will be a custodial sentence of some length. You should prepare yourself for that inevitable outcome.”
The counts Doyle admitted included 17 charges of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent. The complainants in these matters were named as six-month-old Teddy Eveson, other boys and girls aged seven months, 10, 11, 13, as well as adults Jack Trotter, Jon Evans, Scott Dolan, Ashton Gilmore, Jacqueline McClaren, Jamie Fagan, Carl Martin, James Vernon, Emily Wright, David Price, James Weston and Ethan Gillard.
A further nine charges which he pleaded guilty to stated that he caused grievous bodily harm with intent to Helen Gilmore, Anna Bilonozhenko, Sheree Aldridge, Sam Alexander, Hannah O’Neill, Stefan Dettlaf, Christine Seeckts, Susan Passey and Aaron Cothliff. He finally faces sentence for three offences of wounding with intent against a 12-year-old boy, Simon Nash and Robin Darke, as well as matters of affray and dangerous driving.
Merseyside Police’s senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector John Fitzgerald said following his conviction: “It is hard to forget the shocking scenes from that day. What should have been a day of celebration for the city turned into a distressing and frightening experience, which we know continues to have a physical and psychological impact on many people.
“Thousands of people had gathered in the city to watch the Liverpool FC parade, and it is only by sheer luck that nobody was killed because of Doyle’s reckless actions. In just seven minutes, his dangerous driving meant that his car collided with more than 100 people, including children, in some cases, trapping people underneath and causing serious injuries.
“The exceptional work of the emergency services including police, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, the North West Ambulance Service and HM Coastguard should be recognised as they came to the aid of victims, extracting four people from underneath Doyle’s car and treating a number of others. We know that a lot of people are still recovering from the injuries they suffered on that day, and our thoughts remain with them and those that continue to be affected.
“Doyle was quickly apprehended by officers at the scene and has been in custody since, and we have been working closely with our colleagues at the Crown Prosecution Service ahead of the trial. We hope that the knowledge Doyle is now facing a considerable prison sentence will be able to help those affected to move on with their lives.”
Chief crown prosecutor Sarah Hammond added on behalf of the CPS: “Today’s convictions bring a measure of justice for an act that caused unimaginable harm during what should have been a day of celebration for the city of Liverpool. Paul Doyle has been held responsible for his deliberate actions that endangered lives and brought chaos upon a community.
“A total of 134 people were injured, including children as young as six months. This attack did not just harm individuals, it struck at the heart of a city united in joy, leaving fear in its wake. By entering guilty pleas, Doyle has finally accepted that he intentionally drove into crowds of innocent people during Liverpool FC’s victory parade.
“Dashcam footage from Doyle’s vehicle shows that as he approached Dale Street and Water Street, he became increasingly agitated by the crowds. Rather than wait for them to pass, he deliberately drove at them, forcing his way through.
“Driving a vehicle into a crowd is an act of calculated violence. This was not a momentary lapse by Paul Doyle, it was a choice he made that day and it turned celebration into mayhem.
“I would like to commend the bravery of emergency services who acted swiftly at the scene. There can be no doubt that their actions saved lives. Liverpool, as a city, has shown resilience and unity in the face of this awful act, and I hope the victims, their families and anyone affected will feel justice has been done.”