Paul Doyle, a 54-year-old man from Croxteth, Liverpool, has been sentenced to 21 years and six months in prison for a shocking incident during the Liverpool Premier League victory parade on May 26. This tragic event resulted in injuries to 134 individuals when Doyle drove his Ford Galaxy into a crowd of supporters celebrating the team’s success.
On the day of the parade, Doyle was en route to the city center to pick up friends when he became enraged and accelerated his vehicle into the throngs of fans making their way home. Dashcam footage presented in court revealed a harrowing scene, with spectators being thrown onto the car’s hood or falling beneath it as he sped down Water Street, which was closed to traffic at the time.
Legal Proceedings
Initially, Doyle denied all 31 charges against him. However, just before his trial was set to begin, he changed his pleas to guilty, admitting to serious offenses including:
- Dangerous driving
- Affray
- 17 counts of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent
- 9 counts of causing GBH with intent
- 3 counts of wounding with intent
The victims of this attack ranged in age from just six months to 77 years, highlighting the indiscriminate nature of the violence.
During the sentencing, Judge Andrew Menary KC expressed disbelief at Doyle’s actions, describing them as stemming from an “inexplicable and undiluted fury.” He emphasized the horror and devastation caused by Doyle’s reckless behavior, stating that it was difficult to understand how someone could act with such blatant disregard for human life.
Doyle’s reckless driving included overtaking other vehicles and running a red light, all while fans filled the streets. The footage captured him using abusive language towards pedestrians as they scrambled to protect themselves and their children. The chaos only ended when a fan, Dan Barr, intervened by climbing into the back seat and putting the car in park, preventing further harm.
Doyle, a former Royal Marine with a history of violent offenses from the 1990s, claimed he acted out of fear after believing he saw someone with a knife. However, investigations revealed no evidence supporting this claim, and he was found to be neither intoxicated nor under the influence of drugs at the time of the incident.
James Allison from the Crown Prosecution Service remarked that Doyle’s actions were a result of losing his temper and going into a rage, which ultimately devastated many lives in just a few minutes. Detective Chief Inspector John Fitzgerald condemned Doyle’s complete disregard for public safety, particularly concerning the many children present that day, noting that it was sheer luck that no lives were lost.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of unchecked anger and the importance of public safety during large gatherings.
World of sports 
Leave a comment