The Shocking Double Life of a 'Fantastic Guy'
The community in Liverpool remains in shock as further disturbing details emerge about Paul Doyle, the 54-year-old who deliberately drove into crowds during the Liverpool FC victory parade. Behind what neighbours described as a "lovely" public persona lay a complex web of deception and hidden frustrations that culminated in what prosecutors have called an act of "calculated violence".
Military Claims and Professional Contradictions
Doyle had publicly claimed extensive military service, stating he served with the Royal Marine Commandos from March 1990 to June 1994, a period exceeding four years. However, official records obtained by the Liverpool Echo tell a different story, revealing his actual service spanned only from March 1991 to January 1993 - just one year and ten months.
After leaving military service, Doyle built a varied career path that included earning a degree in psychology and maths from Liverpool University. His professional history includes managing a McDonald's restaurant before moving into IT roles, where he served as Network Team Leader at Mersey Care NHS Trust and later as a cybersecurity manager at Rathbones Group.
In 2020, Doyle became a 'certified ethical hacker' and volunteered with a group called the 'Honest Hackers.' He also described himself as 'Acting Head of Cyber' at Hyper Scale Data Centre, a company that appears untraceable, while simultaneously running an online business called FarOut Caps selling headwear.
The Hidden Struggles Beneath the Surface
To his neighbours and community, Doyle presented the image of a model citizen - a church-going, tee-total father of three described as "Mr Healthy Dude" and part of a "nice family." His recent violent actions were viewed by those who knew him as "completely out of character," adding to the mystery surrounding his motivations.
Doyle's wife of twenty years reportedly discovered the incident only after spotting their family car on news broadcasts. When police vehicles first arrived outside their home, neighbours assumed the Doyle family had fallen victim to a burglary rather than being the source of the disturbance.
Beneath this respectable exterior, Doyle's personal interests included intense fitness activities like triathlons, meditation, overseas travel, and cryptocurrency investments. His social media activity revealed he followed controversial figures including Nigel Farage and Andrew Tate on X/Twitter, while his cryptocurrency investments in schemes like SafeMoon had reportedly left him frustrated.
Consequences and Coming Sentencing
Following his guilty pleas, Chief Crown Prosecutor Sarah Hammond stated that Doyle had "deliberately drove at" members of the public during the Liverpool FC victory parade, forcing his way through the crowd after becoming frustrated. This reckless act resulted in 134 injuries, including children, and has left the community grappling with how someone presenting such a respectable front could commit such violence.
Doyle now awaits sentencing next month and has been warned he faces a lengthy prison term for his actions that day. The case has raised questions about how well we can truly know those who appear to be model citizens in our communities.
