Driver who ploughed into Liverpool supporters jailed for 21 years

An ex-Royal Marine who drove his car at a heaving crowd of celebrating football supporters attending a trophy parade, has been jailed for 21 years and six months.

Paul Doyle injured 134 people when he used his Ford Galaxy as a weapon “in a rage” after his “anger had completely taken hold of him”.

Thousands of fans had taken to the streets of Liverpool to watch their heroes as the city celebrated winning the Premier League title, when the married father of three inexplicably accelerated down a city centre street that had been closed for the parade.

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

At Liverpool Crown Court Judge Andrew Menary KC told Doyle his actions were of “undiluted fury” which were he said “almost impossible to comprehend how any right-thinking person could act.”

On receiving his lengthy sentence Doyle stared straight ahead with no expression as he was taken down from the dock by prison officers.

Thrown onto bonnet

During his drive into the centre from the outskirts of the city, Doyle undertook other vehicles and ran a red light. Footage has shown his vehicle moving at speed despite Liverpool supporters filling the roads.

His dashcam footage captured him swearing at the crowd as people pulled their children out of the way to prevent him hitting them. He can be heard shouting “move” as fans were thrown on to the bonnet of his car or fell underneath as he continued to drive over limbs, crushed prams and forced those nearby to scatter in terror.

“Disregard for human life”

The court heard that those struck by Doyle’s car were aged from six months to 77 years.

Judge Menary told Doyle that his “disregard for human life defied ordinary understanding”, pointing out that he had struck people head-on, violently knocking them aside or simply driving over them – “person, after person, after person.”

Heroic actions by member of public

The Judge formally commended a member of the public named as Daniel Barr, who climbed into the back seat of Doyle’s car and held the automatic gear stick in park mode to bring the vehicle to a stop. 

“His actions on that day were outstandingly brave, and prevented further injury and quite possibly saved lives.”

Lucky no lives lost

Det Ch Insp John Fitzgerald, of Merseyside Police, said: “Doyle’s total disregard for the safety of others – particularly the many young children present is beyond comprehension. 

It is sheer luck that no lives were lost.”

Lost temper

James Allison, from the Crown Prosecution Service Mersey-Cheshire, said: “Why did he do it? I think the simple answer is he lost his temper. 

“He went into a rage, he just wanted to get down that road, and in trying to get down that road those next couple of minutes probably devastated a lot of people’s lives.”