A former Royal Marine has pleaded not guilty to 31 charges, including dangerous driving and causing grievous bodily harm with intent, after a car was allegedly driven into a crowd during Liverpool's Premier League victory parade.
Paul Doyle, 53, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court via video link from HMP Belmarsh, wearing a grey T-shirt and glasses. He confirmed his name and entered not guilty pleas, shaking his head as the charges were read out. The charges include one count of affray, one of dangerous driving, nine counts of causing grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent, two counts of wounding with intent, and 18 charges of attempting to cause GBH with intent. Seven-month-old Teddy Eveson is named as a complainant in one of the last charges.
The incident occurred on 26 May when Doyle allegedly followed an ambulance down a road closed to cars during the parade. His grey Ford Galaxy is said to have collided with a large number of fans before stopping. Police pushed back people trying to remove him from the car before arresting him. The incident left 134 people injured, with more than 50 requiring hospitalisation, including four children.
Doyle, a father of three from the West Derby area of Liverpool, was arrested on 29 May and initially charged with seven offences, with an additional 24 charges brought in August. A pre-trial hearing has been set for 27 October, and a provisional trial date for 25 November, expected to last three to four weeks.
