Paul Doyle pleads guilty to Liverpool parade charges

Paul Doyle has pleaded guilty to driving his car into a crowd of supporters at a Liverpool FC victory parade.

The 54-year-old admitted 17 charges of dangerous driving, affray, attempting to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent, nine counts of causing GBH with intent and three counts of wounding with intent.

The Crown Prosecution Service said it was an “act of calculated violence” when Doyle drove into a crowd on the evening of 26 May, injuring more than 130 people.

The father-of-three, from Croxteth, Liverpool, sat with his head down and sobbing as he changed his pleas on the second day of his trial at Liverpool Crown Court.

On the day of Doyle’s attack thousands of Liverpool fans were in the city to watch the parade, which started at 14:30 BST on 26 May.

Before the event the team bus had traveled to The Strand, which passes through the end of Water Street, and the parade was about to end, and supporters were heading home.

More than 130 people were reported injured after Doyle drove his Ford Galaxy Titanium into a crowd on Water Street just after 18:00.

He was arrested at the scene and charged later that week.

A jury was sworn in for his trial on Tuesday, but they changed their pleas early as the prosecution’s case was about to open.

The charges relate to 29 people aged between six months and 77 years.

Doyle, a former Royal Marine, cried at several pre-trial hearings as he appeared over videolink from prison.

The family members had supported him in the court when he had appeared earlier.

Recorder of Liverpool Andrew Menary Casey told Doyle it was “inevitable” that he would face “somewhat lengthy” custodial sentence.

A two-day sentencing hearing was scheduled for December 15 and 16 in the same court.

Sarah Hammond, chief prosecutor of the Criminal Prosecution Service, said that Doyle had ultimately admitted that he had deliberately driven into the crowd of innocent people.

“Dashcam footage from Doyle’s vehicle shows that as he approached Dale Street and Water Street, he became more agitated at the sight of the crowd,” he said.

“Instead of waiting for them to pass, he deliberately drove at them, and forced his way through them.

“Driving into a crowd is an act of calculated violence.

“This was no momentary lapse on Paul Doyle’s part – it was a choice he made that day and it turned a celebration into disaster.”

In May, Merseyside Police said they believed Doyle had followed an ambulance down Water Street after road blockades were temporarily lifted for crews to attend to a man having a heart attack.

Det Ch Inspector John Fitzgerald said it was “only by sheer luck that no one was killed due to Doyle’s reckless actions”.

“In just seven minutes his dangerous driving meant his car collided with more than 100 people, including children, in some cases leaving people trapped underneath and seriously injured.

“What should have been a day of celebration for the city turned into a harrowing and frightening experience, which we know is having a physical and psychological impact on many people.”