A former Royal Marine who drove his vehicle into a crowd of football supporters during Liverpool FC’s victory parade has been sentenced to 21 years and six months in prison, bringing to a close one of the most shocking criminal cases linked to a public sporting celebration in the city.
Paul Doyle, 54, was handed the sentence at Liverpool Crown Court after admitting that he deliberately drove into more than 130 people on Water Street shortly before 6.00 pm on May 26. The court heard that Doyle acted “in a fit of rage” as thousands of fans were making their way home from Liverpool’s Premier League title celebrations.
Passing sentence, Judge Andrew Menary KC said Doyle’s actions caused widespread fear and panic and showed a level of disregard for human life “beyond comprehension.” He noted that the defendant, who showed little emotion as the sentence was read, had turned a moment of collective joy into a scene of terror.
Doyle pleaded guilty to 31 offences, including causing grievous bodily harm with intent, dangerous driving, and affray. His victims ranged in age from a six month old baby to a 77 year old woman, many of whom were struck head on or knocked to the ground as the vehicle forced its way through a road that had been closed to traffic.
The court heard that Doyle, a married father of three from Croxteth, Liverpool, had been driving into the city centre to collect friends when he lost his temper amid congestion caused by the parade. Instead of stopping, he accelerated his Ford Galaxy into supporters who were walking home.
Dashcam footage from inside the vehicle showed fans being thrown onto the bonnet or dragged beneath the car as it surged forward along Water Street. In the footage, Doyle could be heard shouting for people to move and swearing repeatedly, even after striking a 10 year old girl.
Judge Menary told the court that Doyle repeatedly accelerated forwards and backwards, trapping several victims beneath the vehicle while others were thrown into the air or flung across the road. He said the attack unfolded over a short but devastating period, with more than 100 people struck within two minutes before a bystander managed to climb into the car and place the automatic transmission into park.
In stark contrast to the devastation he caused, Doyle was later captured on police body-worn video lamenting his own fate while being transported in a police van, saying, “my life’s ruined now.”
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The two day sentencing hearing heard harrowing accounts from victims, many of whom were present in court as CCTV and dashcam footage of the attack was played repeatedly. Doyle was seen crying during much of the hearing but showed no visible reaction as prison officers led him away after sentencing.
One victim, Sheree Aldridge, 37, described believing her baby son, Teddy Eveson, had been killed after his stroller was struck and thrown into the air by the vehicle. Her testimony was among several that detailed lasting physical injuries and psychological trauma suffered by those caught in the attack.
Judge Menary said the scale and ferocity of the incident made it difficult to fully capture its impact, telling Doyle that the devastation he inflicted on innocent people enjoying a public celebration would resonate for years.
The sentence brings a measure of closure to victims and their families, while serving as a stark reminder of the catastrophic consequences of violence carried out in moments of uncontrolled anger.
