A former Royal Marine has pleaded guilty to deliberately driving his car into a crowd at a Liverpool FC victory parade in May, injuring 134 people, including two babies. Paul Doyle, 54, changed his plea on the first day of his trial at Liverpool Crown Court, admitting 31 offences against 21 adults and eight children.
The incident occurred on 26 May when Doyle drove his Ford Galaxy down a road closed to non-emergency vehicles, tailgating an ambulance before accelerating into the crowd. Footage showed people being thrown into the air as his car struck over 100 fans in seven minutes. More than 50 people required hospital treatment, with the youngest victims aged six and seven months, and the oldest a 77-year-old woman who suffered multiple fractures.
Doyle originally denied charges including 17 counts of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm and nine of causing grievous bodily harm with intent. However, on Wednesday, he sobbed in the dock before changing his pleas to guilty. Judge Andrew Menary KC told Doyle it was 'inevitable that there will be a custodial sentence of some length' when he is sentenced on 15 and 16 December. He faces a jail term of more than 10 years.
Detective Chief Inspector John Fitzgerald of Merseyside Police said it was only 'sheer luck' that no one was killed, adding: '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.' The courtroom was packed with relatives of the injured and members of Doyle's family.
Doyle claimed he panicked after some in the crowd attempted to stop his vehicle, but prosecutors rejected this, believing he had lost his temper and driven in rage. The seven-minute assault ended when a passerby grabbed the gear stick and held it in park before Doyle was pulled from the vehicle and arrested. Onlookers initially feared a terrorist attack, with far-right agitator Tommy Robinson speculating as such on social media.
