A motorist who deliberately drove his car into crowds of Liverpool supporters celebrating a Premier League title win has been sentenced to more than 21 years in prison. Paul Doyle's actions during the victory parade on 26 May caused more than 130 injuries in what a judge described as an act of "inexplicable and undiluted fury".
Seven Minutes of Pure Mayhem
Shocking footage played at Liverpool Crown Court chronicled a devastating seven-minute rampage. Paul Doyle, 54, used his 1.9-tonne Ford Galaxy "as a weapon", prosecutors said, after becoming enraged by fans filling the streets. The video showed his journey from a calm drive from his home to collect a friend, escalating into fury as he encountered the celebrating crowds.
He was heard yelling expletives and revving his engine at pedestrians, with one clip capturing him calling people "f****** pricks" as parents hurriedly pulled children from his path. Doyle undertook vehicles, ran a red light, and powered down Dale Street without slowing. Upon reaching a line of cars turning away from the closed Water Street, he paused before swerving directly into the packed left lane.
Victims' Harrowing Ordeal and Lasting Trauma
The human cost of Doyle's actions was laid bare in court through numerous victim impact statements. More than 130 people were injured, with pedestrians thrown onto the car's bonnet and one man becoming trapped underneath. The vehicle was only stopped when a brave fan, Dan Barr, climbed into the back seat of the automatic car and forced the gearstick into park.
The youngest victim was six-month-old Teddy Eveson, whose pram was struck and carried by the car. His mother told the court she has been diagnosed with PTSD, constantly reliving the "terrifying image" of the pram being hit. "The horror of not knowing whether he was alive or dead in that instant will haunt me forever," she said.
The eldest victim, 77-year-old Susan Passey, was pinned under the vehicle. Her son, Ian, described frantically searching for her after being knocked down himself. "I found her... my 77-year-old mother pinned under the car, her head in a pool of blood, face down on the road," he said. "I thought my mum had been killed."
A History of Violence and an Unexpected Guilty Plea
The court heard that Doyle, who was dismissed from the Marines in 1993, had a long history of violent offences. This included a 1993 conviction for biting a sailor's ear off during a pub brawl, for which he served 12 months in prison. He had other convictions for assault and military discipline offences in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Initially denying dozens of charges, Doyle unexpectedly changed his plea to guilty in November on the second day of his trial. He admitted to 31 charges relating to 29 victims, including dangerous driving, affray, and multiple counts of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent. He was shaking and barely audible as he entered his pleas.
Doyle had claimed to police he drove in panic after seeing someone with a knife, but investigators found no evidence from CCTV or witnesses to support this. The car had no defects, and he was not under the influence of drink or drugs. James Allison of the Crown Prosecution Service stated the simple answer was that Doyle "lost his temper" and "went into a rage".
Sentencing Doyle to 21 years and six months in prison, Judge Andrew Menary KC said his actions "caused horror and devastation on a scale not previously encountered by this court." Detective Chief Inspector John Fitzgerald emphasised the "sheer luck that no lives were lost," condemning Doyle's "total disregard for the safety of others."
