Paul Doyle’s victims have said that the Liverpool victory parade had meant to be the “best day ever” but had turned into the stuff of nightmares, leaving dozens with traumatic flashbacks and anxiety.
The former Royal Marine sobbed in the dock as he heard how a 13-year-old boy and a 15-year-old girl had been left with mentally affected, while other football fans said their enjoyment of watching Liverpool FC had been “tainted”.
Anna Bilonozhenko, 43, said she came to the UK to escape the war in Ukraine but the incident had felt “like losing our safety all over again”.
On the first day of the two-day sentencing hearing, Liverpool Crown Court heard how a hero ex-soldier Daniel Barr bravely climbed into Doyle’s car and brought it to a standstill which ended the two-minute anger-fuelled rampage.
After his arrest, the 54-year-old told police officers “I’ve just ruined my family’s life” after being arrested for driving his car into a Liverpool football victory parade, leaving more than 130 people injured.
The former Royal Marine also told officers he had “just panicked” and claimed he “thought he was going to die” during the incident on 26 May.
Key Points
- What the atmosphere is like inside the court room
- Doyle shouted 'f****** hell move' after hitting 10-year-old girl
- 'It feels like losing our safety all over again,' says Ukrainian refugee
- Doyle 'lost his temper' and drove into crowds in a 'rage'
- Tears in court during playing of dashcam footage
- 'Hero' climbed into car to stop Doyle by shifting gear stick to 'park
‘My baby was flung 15ft in the Liverpool parade attack. It’s a miracle he’s still alive’
18:00 , Holly EvansWalking through crowds of deliriously happy football supporters, Sheree Aldridge carefully pushed her five-month-old baby, Teddy, in his pram. She and her partner, Daniel Eveson, were walking back to their car after Liverpool’s Premier League-winning victory parade – an afternoon of celebration and jubilation for more than a million fans.
Moments later, as the family of three joined Water Street, they heard a loud noise. Then someone shouted “car”.
Mr Eveson, 37, instantly spun his partner around, away from the impending danger. But it was too late. Paul Doyle’s 1.9-tonne Ford Galaxy crashed into her side, flinging the pram – and her beloved baby boy –15 feet down the road.
Read the full article here:
‘My baby was flung 15ft at Liverpool parade. It’s a miracle he’s still alive’
Paramedic feared terror attack as driver ploughed into crowds at Liverpool parade
17:40 , Holly EvansA paramedic knocked to the ground during the Liverpool parade crash said he feared he was in the middle of a terrorist attack after seeing Paul Doyle’s car turn back toward him.
Jay Vernon, 34, was working as a cycle response paramedic for North West Ambulance Service in Liverpool city centre on May 26 when he was called to a reported cardiac arrest on Water Street shortly after the victory parade ended.
He said: “I was struck with almighty force from behind, which has then sent me flying over to the right hand side, and I landed in the gutter on Water Street.
“I’ve put my hands out to brace myself, as you normally would, and then, as I’ve been in the gutter, there was a number of people around me and on the floor.
“As I’ve looked left, I’ve seen a car. I’ve then seen the car reverse lights come on and it start heading back up towards Water Street.
“It was at that point in my mind, I immediately thought, ‘I’m in the middle of a terrorist incident’.”
Read the full article here:
Paramedic feared terror attack as driver ploughed into crowds at Liverpool parade
He seemed like the perfect family man. Then he brought chaos to Liverpool
17:15 , Holly EvansAs tens of thousands of thousands of Liverpool football supporters celebrated their team’s success in the city centre, six miles away, in a leafy cul-de-sac, neighbours spotted a father-of-three slowly reverse out of his drive and pull away.
Believed to have dropped off the family of a work colleague in the city earlier that day, Paul Doyle, now 54, looked to be heading back out to collect them. “Paul, being Paul, the good guy he was, he’d have offered to collect them,” said a neighbour.
But the father-of-three never returned to his home.
Read the full article here:
The ‘perfect’ family man who brought chaos to Liverpool in 7 minutes of violence
What did the court hear today?
16:50 , Holly Evans- Paul Doyle, described as a “family man” by prosecutors, wept as footage of the horrific rampage was shown to the city’s crown court multiple times on Monday.
- His sentencing hearing was told the 54-year-old was “in a rage” and his “anger had completely taken hold of him”.
- Doyle previously pleaded guilty to 31 offences relating to seriously injuring people during the victory parade in May.
- Prosecutors said in the space of two minutes, his Ford Galaxy – which weighed nearly two tonnes – collided with “well over 100 people” and he was “prepared to cause those in the crowd, even children, serious harm if necessary to achieve his aim of getting through”.
- Doyle admitted 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 last month.
- The court was told a man named Daniel Barr, labelled a “hero” by prosecutors, had “bravely” jumped into the back of Doyle’s Galaxy and placed the vehicle into park.
- A number of victim impact statements were read to the court by prosecutor Philip Astbury, with some speaking of “flashbacks” and their “emotional and psychological injury”.
Timeline: How Paul Doyle unleashed two minutes of horror at Liverpool victory parade
16:25 , Holly EvansPaul Doyle shouted “move”, “f****** pricks” and “get out the f****** way” as he ploughed his car into Liverpool football fans during an expletive-laden rampage, horrifying footage has revealed.
Dashcam footage from Doyle’s car shows pedestrians pulling their children out of the vehicle’s path as the former Royal Marine drove “in a rage” through crowds celebrating Liverpool’s Premier League title win.
The disturbing recording also shows a man landing on the car’s windscreen, causing it to smash. Prosecutors said the “anger had completely taken hold of him” when he used the Ford Galaxy – which weighed nearly two tonnes – “as a weapon”, injuring more than 130 people.
Read our full article here:
How Paul Doyle unleashed two minutes of horror at Liverpool victory parade
Sentencing hearing adjourned for the day
16:03 , Alex RossJudge Andrew Menary has adjourned the case to restart tomorrow morning at 10.30am.
The Crown Prosecution Service is midway through summarising victim impact statements to the court.
Tomorrow we also expect to hear Doyle’s mitigation in relation to the offence.
Injuries have left mother feeling 'disgusting, disfigured and broken'
16:02 , Holly EvansA mother described how she thought her baby son had died after his pram was thrown into the air after being hit by Paul Doyle’s car, adding that she thought she would “be next”.
Sheree Aldridge, 37, said her partner Dan Eveson had proudly dressed their six-month-old son Teddy Eveson in his Liverpool FC shirt that day and “was excited to share this moment” with him.
Her statement read: “In that moment I thought I was going to die. I didn’t know where Dan and Teddy was.
“I felt an overwhelming pain in my leg and looked up to see Teddy’s pushchair on its side further up the road. I thought my Teddy was dead. I thought I was next. I thought my children would grow up without a mother.”
Ms Aldridge said her injuries made her feel “disgusting, disfigured and broken,” that she has been diagnosed with a lifelong condition called Morel-Lavaellee Lesion and suffers from severe back and hip pain from prolonged use of crutches.
She said: “Teddy hasn’t been in a pushchair since that day. My leg will never be the same again. I will never be the same again. I am scarred for life.
“This was supposed to be my maternity leave – a time to bond with my baby and make memories. Instead, I’ve been robbed of those moments.”
'Everytime I see a Ford Galaxy the incident replays in my mind'
15:48 , Alex RossAnother one of the victims was Simon Nash, aged 53, who got separated from his wife and son when he was hit by Doyle’s car.
He suffered rib fractures and a head injury that left him “dazed and frightened”, the court hears.
In his statement, he said: “I often replay the moments in my mind – the sound, the shock and fear. I feel a loss of confidence and safety in situations that never used to bother me.
“Every time I see a Ford Galaxy, the incident replays in my mind.”
His injuries meant he took time off work and no longer plays football.
He added: “The day could have ended a lot differently. I feel lucky to still be here.”
Paul Doyle sobs in the dock as he hears victim impact statements
15:42 , Holly EvansPaul Doyle put his head down and sobbed as the court heard a statement from one woman whose 13-year-old son and 15-year-old daughter were injured in the crash.
She said their mental health, and that of her husband who was also there, had been affected.
She said: “This has placed significant strain on our daily lives, routines and our ability to work and function as a family unit.”
Cycle response paramedic James Vernon, who was on duty in the city centre on the day, said in his statement: “We are trained and well-rehearsed on how to respond to terrorist incidents, but nothing prepares you for the terror that I felt in that split second, the fear was immeasurable.”
He added: “Never in my life have I heard or seen my dad cry. I recall sitting in Mowgli on Water Street, which was a makeshift ward for all those injured, when I spoke to my dad on the phone. Hearing his voice break completely broke me, I burst into tears.”
'Watching Liverpool play has been tainted'
15:41 , Holly EvansAlan Spain, 26, has said that the attack will “always be on my mind for the rest of my life”, and that every time he watches Liverpool, he returns to the terror of 26 May.
“What I am saying is that one of my favourite pastimes, ever since I started doing it at the age of 6 with my dad and my younger brother, watching Liverpool play has been tainted,” he said.
“Every time I watch them, I end up on Water Street. Every time I see the Liverpool jersey I was wearing that day, in my wardrobe, I end up on Water Street. Every time Liverpool score and I see the fans in the Kop jump and cheer and celebrate, I end up on Water Street. Because that’s what the crowd were doing.
“Everyone was cheering and celebrating, and everyone was in a joyous mood. Everyone was there to have fun. And that was ruined. The same way that I feel as I sit down to watch Liverpool play, now is a little bit ruined.”
'It feels like losing our safety all over again,' says Ukrainian refugee
15:35 , Holly EvansIn a victim impact statement read by prosecution junior counsel Phil Astbury, Anna Bilonozhenko, 43, who came to England in 2024 to escape the war in Ukraine, said she thought spending the day at the parade with her 22-year-old daughter Sasha would “lift our spirits”.
Instead, she was left with an injury that required metal plates to be inserted into her leg.
She said: “We came to this country because of the war in our homeland, hoping to finally feel safe. At first, we did. But now that feeling has been taken away. Realising that is deeply painful – it feels like losing our safety all over again.”
Diamanti Nikiforaki, 53, said: “Even now I remain deeply affected. I can no longer walk in the middle of pedestrianised areas. I am constantly hyper-vigilant and cautious, scanning my surroundings. I experience anticipatory anxiety and find it difficult to relax.”
'My love is Liverpool Football Club, and I am finding it very difficult to go there'
15:29 , Holly EvansA 41-year-old man said the incident was “the worst experience of my life” and had made his job as a driver “scary”.
Jeremy Pentecost’s victim impact statement read: “Work affected my mental health, driving around all day on my own – at first I was seeing bodies flying here, there and everywhere, unable to stop thinking about the events of the day.”
Ian Moody, 63, said he suffered “intense” physical pain from his injuries and now found himself “feeling very down and emotional over silly things”.
Mr Moody’s wife Tracey Moody, 60, said she has nightmares about the experience.
“My love is Liverpool Football Club, and I am finding it very difficult to go there,” her statement read.
The couple’s son Scott Moody, 26, said: “Psychologically I have been struggling since this day, I have frequent flashbacks when trying to sleep as I can see Water Street while I have my eyes shut, and I can see the chaos that was around me after the incident.”
11-year-old girl left with 'separation anxiety' and sleeping issues
15:24 , Holly EvansA mother has spoken of the impact on her 11-year-old daughter, who cannot be identified, stating that she has been left “panicky” and has formed “irrational fears” as a result.
She said: “This incident has affected her psychologically. When this first happened, she was struggling to sleep, this has gone on for months now, she was struggling to sleep through the night and would want me to sleep in her bed with her, it was like she had separation anxiety, and she would make comments that she was worried about me or her dad dying.
“I have witnessed certain changes in her since this incident, she has changed in herself, she has been suffering with anxiety, she has become clingy, not wanting to be away from us as she thinks something bad will happen.”
Her daughter has since been referred to CAHMS for counselling and therapy.
Mother says her 13-year-old daughter is left 'extremely quiet'
15:17 , Holly EvansA woman giving a statement on behalf of herself and her 13-year-old daughter, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, said she was now “anxious about being in crowded spaces and also fear when crossing roads or hearing the noise of a car horn”.
She said: “My daughter doesn’t really talk about the day and incident, and there are times where she is extremely quiet, she has a mentor at her school who she has started to open up to but keeps shutting herself down.”
Anne McHale, 70, said: “In the days that followed I could think of nothing else but that day.
“In the next couple of weeks, I didn’t speak to many people about the incident as I became very tearful if I spoke about it.”
'Should have been one of the happiest days of my life,' says victim
15:15 , Holly EvansContinuing to read through the victim impact statements, one 16-year-old victim said he has been left feeling “scared, angry and sad”.
“The incident has taken away what should have been one of the happiest days of my life that I could have talked about for years. My family and friends were terrified at the time, and since the incident they have struggled to help me and for them to understand what I am going through,” he said.
Amanda Gardener, 52, said that while her physical injuries had healed, she was continuing to struggle with the mental repercussions.
As a result, she said that her anxiety is “through the roof” and that she recently burst into tears at the sound of a noisy car.
Boy, 12, has said chance to see his heroes turned into 'worst day'
15:08 , Holly EvansA 12-year-old boy who was hit by Doyle’s car has been left with “nightmares” from the incident, and said he has developed a fear of crowded places and feels “anxious” when crossing roads.
His victim impact statement said: “It started off as the best day ever, I was so excited to see my heroes go past on the open top bus and the party atmosphere was amazing, but soon the day changed to the worst day of my life.
“I found myself on the floor having been hit by a car I did not see coming, I have never felt so scared before in my life. I was split up from my mum, I felt lost, confused, didn’t know what was happening to me or why.”
Victims left unable to work and scared to enter city centre
15:04 , Holly EvansIn the first victim impact statement of those injured by Paul Doyle, Jack Trotter said he had to quit football at the age of 23 and was unable to do things he used to do with his three-year-old son.
He said: “In the days and weeks following the incident, life was a struggle. I needed support with all aspects of my daily living.
“I was unable to shower or dress myself without my fiancee, Abbie’s help. Learning to walk again has been a long and often painful process.”
Scott Dolan, 36, who suffered knee, back and hand injuries, said he had “lost months of my life not being able to do things I love to do” and was off work for about two months.
His statement read: “I’ve had flashbacks from time to time. I feel anxious when the incident is brought up in conversation and I now have a reluctance to travel into Liverpool city centre.”
Jessica Fawcett, 21, said she had quit her job as a nursery worker because she could not work on her injured foot all day, had become isolated and no longer felt safe near cars or roads.
Her statement read: “The emotional and psychological injury is also still with me, and I don’t yet know what the full impact of this will be.”
78 victims gave statements on the impact of incident
15:00 , Alex RossProsecutor Paul Greaney KC says all those injured were given the opportunity to provide a victim personal statement.
A total of 78 provided a statement.
Mr Greaney says: “No victim wishes to read their statement out personally, but they all wish the key aspects of what they have said to be presented to the court and to the public, and to the defendant.”
Elderly victim, 77, spent 27 days in hospital
14:56 , Holly EvansSusan Passey, the eldest victim of the attack, spent 27 days in hospital after being hit by Doyle’s car.
She, the prosecutor says, suffered a fractured left forearm, fractured left collar bone, three fractured ribs, a fractured pelvis, a broken nose, plus multiple abrasions and bruising to her head, knees and back.
The 77-year-old’s victim statement spoke of her ongoing physical and psychological suffering as a result of the attack.
Victim diagnosed with PTSD
14:56 , Alex RossAnother victim was Emily Wright, who, aged 28 at the time of the parade, suffered swelling and bruising to her left foot and a soft tissue injury to the left side of her chest.
Prosecutor Paul Greaney KC says: “Emily continues to experience pain and has been diagnosed with PTSD.
“The defendant’s actions have affected every aspect of her life profoundly.”
Mother struck feels 'robbed' of memories with baby
14:50 , Alex RossA victim we’ve covered previously is Sheree Aldridge, who was hit along with a pram carrying her baby, Teddy Eveson, by Doyle’s car.
Ms Aldridge suffered an injury to her left leg that saw her in hospital for 18 days, and has been left feeling disfigured, said Paul Greaney KC, prosecuting.
He adds: “Her treatment is ongoing and she is awaiting appointments for plastic surgery, and in respect of a spinal injury she suffered.
“In her victim personal statement, she speaks of her fear at the time that she would die and the enduring impact on her and her family of what the defendant did.
“She feels robbed of the memories she expected to build during what was due to be her maternity leave.”
Woman hit by Doyle's car had fled Ukraine war
14:46 , Alex RossProsecutor Paul Greaney KC is now going through the victims of the Liverpool parade incident, providing details of their injuries and the impact on their lives.
He starts with Anna Bilonozhenko, who was aged 43 and suffered a fracture of her left knee which required surgery to fit a plate and screws.
She spent nine nights in hospital.
Mr Greaney says: “Anna had fled the war in Ukraine, only to be attacked in the UK. She is now in constant pain, with limited mobility. The psychological impact upon her was and continues to be significant.”
‘I just panicked’, Doyle told police
14:39 , Holly EvansUpon being shown footage during several police interviews, Doyle agreed that his account did not match what was shown on the dashcam, but maintained he had behaved because he had “just panicked”.
His claims that there were “no obvious police in the vicinity” was also discredited given the number of officers present, and his assertion he had driven carefully was also disproved given that he had driven into over 100 people.
“Even if it is right that the behaviour of the crowd in the area of the traffic implementations disturbed the defendant, or even frightened him, it was his own behaviour that had caused that reaction, by the dangerous way in which he had driven down Dale Street towards those cones. And in any event, nothing could justify what he then did,” the prosecutor said.
Doyle said he ‘thought he was going to die’
14:32 , Holly EvansDuring his police interview, Doyle told investigating officers that he “thought he was going to die” and claimed that he had brought the car to a stop.
He claimed that he thought a member of the public “had a knife” and that he thought someone had got their hand around his throat and he believed he “was going to get a slashed neck”.
He added: “I really thought I was going to die. I saw me kids go through my mind’s eye and my wife erm and then all oh I couldn’t see as well properly because of all the alcohol in my eyes so I could see out of half of one eye.”
He admitted to police had he had been in a “blind panic” and had found the experience “totally horrific”.
Doyle said ‘I’ve ruined my family's life’ on arrest
14:27 , Holly EvansAfter the vehicle was brought to a stop, the court heard that the crowd was “unsurprisingly highly hostile” towards Doyle and he was dragged from his car.
He received minor injuries before police officers intervened and forced him into a nearby police van. The court heard that he was heard saying “I’ve just ruined my family’s life” on an officer’s body camera footage as he was arrested.
Doyle was subsequently interviewed by police the following day after being held in custody.
Hearing has resumed
14:26 , Holly EvansThe sentencing of Paul Doyle has resumed at Liverpool Crown Court.
Paramedic feared terror attack as driver ploughed into crowds at Liverpool parade
13:50 , Holly EvansA paramedic knocked to the ground during the Liverpool parade crash said he feared he was in the middle of a terrorist attack after seeing Paul Doyle’s car turn back toward him.
Jay Vernon, 34, was working as a cycle response paramedic for North West Ambulance Service in Liverpool city centre on May 26 when he was called to a reported cardiac arrest on Water Street shortly after the victory parade ended.
Doyle, 54, is due to be sentenced on Monday on 31 charges linked to the incident, which occurred as he crashed into crowds who were leaving the city’s waterfront following celebrations of the Premier League victory.
Read the full article here:
Paramedic feared terror attack as driver ploughed into crowds at Liverpool parade
What have we heard so far?
13:35 , Holly EvansA family man lost his temper during Liverpool’s Premier League title parade and used his vehicle as a “weapon” by driving into more than 100 people to get through the crowds, a court heard.
Paul Doyle appeared in the dock at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday for his two-day sentencing hearing after pleading guilty to 31 offences relating to seriously injuring people during the victory parade in May.
Prosecutors said in the space of two minutes, Doyle’s Ford Galaxy – which weighed nearly two tonnes – collided with “well over 100 people” and he was “prepared to cause those in the crowd, even children, serious harm if necessary to achieve his aim of getting through”.
The 54-year-old admitted 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 last month.
He had previously denied the offences, which relate to 29 victims aged between six months and 77.
Horrifying dashcam footage was displayed to the court on the first day of his sentencing hearing, with the defendant heard shouting “move”, “f****** pricks” and “get out the f****** way”.
Pedestrians pulled their children out of the path of Doyle’s car to stop them being hit, and the footage showed the windscreen smash after a man landed on it.
Doyle cried as the footage was shown to the court, putting his head down and shutting his eyes as the footage showed his car hitting crowds of supporters.
He seemed like the perfect family man. Then he brought chaos to Liverpool
13:20 , Holly EvansAs tens of thousands of thousands of Liverpool football supporters celebrated their team’s success in the city centre, six miles away, in a leafy cul-de-sac, neighbours spotted a father-of-three slowly reverse out of his drive and pull away.
Believed to have dropped off the family of a work colleague in the city earlier that day, Paul Doyle, now 54, looked to be heading back out to collect them. “Paul, being Paul, the good guy he was, he’d have offered to collect them,” said a neighbour.
But the father-of-three never returned to his home.
Instead, he drove onto a cordoned-off street filled with Liverpool supporters heading home from the team’s victory parade, where he lost his temper and deliberately drove into them, leaving 134 people injured, including a six-month-old baby and a 77-year-old pensioner.
Read the full article here:
The ‘perfect’ family man who brought chaos to Liverpool in 7 minutes of violence
‘My baby was flung 15ft in the Liverpool parade attack. It’s a miracle he’s still alive’
13:05 , Holly EvansWalking through crowds of deliriously happy football supporters, Sheree Aldridge carefully pushed her five-month-old baby, Teddy, in his pram. She and her partner Daniel Eveson were walking back to their car after Liverpool’s Premier League-winning victory parade – an afternoon of celebration and jubilation for more than a million fans.
Moments later, as the family-of-three joined Water Street, they heard a loud noise. Then someone shouted “car”.
Mr Eveson, 37, instantly spun his partner around, away from the impending danger. But it was too late. Paul Doyle’s 1.9-tonne Ford Galaxy crashed into her side, flinging the pram – and her beloved baby boy –15ft down the road.
Ms Aldridge, 37, a safeguarding officer, was thrown onto the bonnet of Doyle’s car. She fell back onto the road and was run over, leaving her with injuries that medics described as being more akin to those sustained in a motorway crash.
Read the full exclusive from our reporter Alex Ross here:
‘My baby was flung 15ft at Liverpool Parade. It’s a miracle he’s still alive’
Analysis from inside the court room
12:54 , Alex RossWe’ve just broken for lunch. And in all honesty, there is a sense of relief that everyone can take a break from the graphic evidence provided this morning.
The court has been shown dozens of clips showing Doyle’s car hitting crowds of people during the Liverpool parade last year.
At times, there were gasps from the packed public gallery, where some were seen wiping tears from their eyes.
I'm sat among a group of hardened court reporters, and there have been some deep breaths as some of the more shocking clips have been played.
On a number of occasions, Paul Greaney KC, prosecuting, had to warn those in the court of the material he was about to show.
I travelled to Liverpool to report on the aftermath of the incident.
Now, to see what took place - the ages of the people impacted and the horrified faces in footage - it is truly distressing.
This afternoon we’re set to hear what Doyle said in police interview.
What the atmosphere is like inside the court room
12:54 , Alex RossWe’ve just broken for lunch. And in all honesty, there is a sense of relief that everyone can take a break from the graphic evidence provided this morning.
The court has been shown dozens of clips showing Doyle’s car hitting crowds of people during the Liverpool parade last year.
At times, there were gasps from the packed public gallery, where some were seen wiping tears from their eyes.
I'm sat among a group of hardened court reporters, and there have been some deep breaths as some of the more shocking clips have been played.
On a number of occasions, Paul Greaney KC, prosecuting, had to warn those in the court of the material he was about to show.
I travelled to Liverpool to report on the aftermath of the incident.
Now, to see what took place - the ages of the people impacted and the horrified faces in footage - it is truly distressing.
This afternoon we’re set to hear what Doyle said in police interview.
Doyle's car stopping was 'not his decision'
12:38 , Alex RossThe court has just been told of the actions of Daniel Barr, who got in the back seat of Doyle’s vehicle and put the gear stick into ‘park’ mode.
Prosecutor Paul Greaney KC says it was Barr’s actions, along with those injured, who stopped the vehicle moving again.
He says: “The defendant could not have failed to see that he had struck very many people on his journey down Dale Street and Water Street, stopping to reverse and then drive on a number of times.
“In any event, what brought the Galaxy to a halt was a combination of the number of people trapped beneath the vehicle and the actions of Daniel Barr, not the decision of Paul Doyle.”
'Hero' climbed into car to stop Doyle by shifting gear stick to 'park'
12:28 , Holly EvansPaul Doyle’s driving was brought to a halt after a man heroically climbed into the passenger seat and moved the gear selector into ‘park’ mode.
Daniel Barr told police that while he held onto the gear stick as hard as possible, Doyle “continued to keep his foot on the accelerator”.
Prosecutor Paul Greaney KC said: “He was in the Galaxy, in the back seat, during the final sixteen seconds of the vehicle’s movements. Daniel Barr has explained to the police what happened during that period of time, and just before.
“He had watched the parade from a position near the Liver Building. Once the parade ended, he started walking up Water Street, intending to return home. He observed the Galaxy in the distance and noted that the crowd’s attitude suddenly changed, from “joyful to desperate”. He saw the Galaxy weaving and hitting people, who were sent flying into the air.
“All of a sudden, the vehicle stopped right beside him. Daniel Barr instinctively pulled open the rear passenger-side door and climbed in. He did so with the intention of stopping the driver. As the car set off again, he leaned forward and moved the gear selector into “park”.
“He held it there as hard as he could. The Galaxy did not stop immediately, but in the end it did. However, Daniel Barr describes how even after he had brought the vehicle to a halt, the defendant continued to keep his foot on the accelerator”.
Doyle's car reversed into ambulance - before hitting more people
12:22 , Alex RossIn Water Street, Doyle’s car stopped and then hit an ambulance by reserving into it, forcing it “off its wheels”, says Paul Greaney KC, prosecuting.
Doyle’s car then moved forward again, hitting more people.
Doyle's car hit an ambulance
12:20 , Alex RossIn Water Street, Doyle’s car stopped and then hit an ambulance by reserving into it, forcing it “off its wheels”, says Paul Greaney KC, prosecuting.
Doyle’s car then moved forward again, hitting more people.
Doyle shouted 'f****** hell move' after hitting 10-year-old girl
12:17 , Alex RossCourt is now played footage showing a 10-year-old girl who was attending the parade with her family.
Paul Greaney KC, prosecuting, says the girl’s father tried to push her out of the way of the vehicle, but she was struck.
He says: “[She] was extremely fortunate to suffer only relatively minor physical injuries. Just after striking [her], the defendant shouted, “f****** hell, move.”
Doyle claimed 'he stopped as soon as he realised he had hit someone'
12:13 , Alex RossPaul Greaney KC, prosecuting, is now taking the court through the vehicle coming into Water Street.
After the vehicle strikes two people, Mr Greaney says, Doyle stops momentarily.
He says: “What the defendant had done to that point in time was dreadful and criminal, and this was the time to stop. In interview with the police the next day, the defendant was to suggest that he stopped as soon as he realised he had hit someone.
“That was untrue.”
Crowd could sense 'something dreadful was unfolding'
12:06 , Alex RossAs Doyle’s vehicle continued to drive through the crowds, Paul Greaney KC, prosecuting, says many reacted.
One person opened the driver’s door and a clear plastic cup was thrown, before the door was closed, Mr Greaney says.
The back windscreen is also broken, and one person threw a camping chair.
Mr Greaney adds: “It is obvious that the crowd sensed that something dreadful was unfolding.”
Graphic footage continues to be shown
12:02 , Alex RossCourt is shown a number of clips from all angles of the incident, at different stages of time.
They show injured pedestrians in the road.
When the car comes to a stop, crowds can be seen gathering around the vehicle along with police.
Mobile phone footage shows stricken pram in road
12:00 , Alex RossMobile phone footage has just been shown Doyle’s car hitting the pram carrying the youngest victim, Teddy Eveson, who fortunately was uninjured.
Paul Greaney KC, prosecuting, warned Teddy’s mother, Sheree Aldridge, who sits in court, before playing the footage.
Anger 'completely taken hold of Doyle'
11:55 , Alex RossCourt is now shown the moment Doyle’s vehicle veers through the gap in the cones, and heads down Water Street, hitting pedestrians who can be seen desperately trying to get out of the way.
The disturbing footage lasts 2min and 25 seconds.
Paul Greney KC says: “He was a man in a rage, whose anger had completely taken hold of him.”
Mobile and CCTV footage shown of Doyle's driving
11:48 , Alex RossThe court is now being shown more dashcam footage of Doyle driving along Dale Street. CCTV and mobile phone footage is also played of the vehicle movements.
Paul Greaney KC, prosecuting, says it leads up to a period during which the “defendant used his vehicle as a weapon as he veered to the left of the traffic implementations and drove down Dale Street and then onto Water Street, driving into and over more than 100 people as he did so, causing many people injuries.”
Parents 'dragged their children from Doyle's path'
11:39 , Alex RossPaul Greaney KC, prosecuting, is now going through graphic stills from the dashcam footage, showing Doyle’s driving in Dale Street.
He tells the court: “The defendant started to blast the horn of his vehicle repeatedly, causing further concern within the crowd. Members of the crowd become extremely concerned by his behaviour.
“Adults jumped out of his way. Parents dragged their children from his path. He had completely lost his temper.”
Doyle 'regarded himself as the most important person' while driving
11:33 , Alex RossMore footage now being shown to the court of Doyle’s vehicle heading into Dale Street.
Paul Greaney KC, prosecuting, says his driving was a cause of concern for pedestrians.
One woman, who provided a witness statement, said she “regarded the defendant’s driving as aggressive”.
Mr Greaney says Doyle continued to driving, causing more peopel to move out of the way, while he mumbled “f****** move”.
He adds: “The strong sense from the dashcam footage is that the defendant regarded himself as the most important person on Dale Street, and considered that everyone else needed to get out of his way so that he could get to where he wanted to get to.”
Doyle's vehicle followed 'gap' in road closure left by ambulance
11:26 , Alex RossThe courtroom is now being shown an image of an ambulance heading toward the Strand during the time of the incident, responding to a patient.
Paul Greaney KC, prosecuting, says: “It was necessary for it to travel to the left of the queuing traffic. As a result, someone moved cones to enable the ambulance to proceed. It was through the gap that was left that the defendant was able to drive a short time later.”
'Safety of others was far from the priority of Doyle'
11:22 , Alex RossThe courtroom is now being talked through the next part of Doyle’s journey into Liverpool city centre to pick up his friend.
Approaching Dale Street, it would have been clear that the journey was not going to be straight forward due to the crowds, says Paul Greaney KC.
Dashcam footage is now shown to the court showing Doyle’s vehicle at a roundabout turning into Dale Street
Mr Greaney says: “What the court has just seen is the defendant undertake a series of other vehicles at the traffic lights leading on to the roundabout, coming close to pedestrians, then taking the third exit despite having travelled almost the whole circuit in the left-hand lane.
“While, once more, this conduct is far from the most culpable that the defendant engaged in that day, it again demonstrates that the safety of others was far from the priority of Paul Doyle.”
Doyle heard swearing 'get out the f****** way' as he drives into crowds
11:20 , Holly EvansThe footage from the parade, showing the view from the windscreen of his Ford Galaxy, captured Doyle saying “f****** pricks” as pedestrians pulled their children out of the way of his car to stop them being hit as he drove down Dale Street.
It showed him approach a line of cars waiting to turn right off the road before it becomes Water Street. Doyle then swerved away from the traffic and into the left lane, which was closed as hundreds of fans were making their way back from the celebrations.
He could be heard shouting and screaming “move”, “f****** pricks” and “get out the f****** way” as shocked members of the public tried to jump out of the way of his car.
The footage, which will not be released because of its graphic nature, showed the windscreen smash after a man landed on it. Others could be seen on the bonnet of the car as Doyle continued to drive and people, including children, appeared to go under the vehicle.
Doyle drove 'dangerously' on way to city centre to get his friend
11:16 , Alex RossThe court is now told that Doyle stayed at home until 5.29pm, when he set off to pick up his friend.
Paul Greaney KC, prosecuting, says: “The defendant drove aggressively during the period that followed.
“How he drove the Galaxy at that stage was dangerous. He routinely engaged in the undertaking of other vehicles and ran a red light.”
Dashcam footage is then shown to the court of Doyle’s journey into Liverpool city centre.
Dashcam footage shows Doyle dropping off friend
11:13 , Alex RossCourtroom is now shown dashcam footage of Doyle dropping off his friend and family in Liverpool city centre.
It shows him driving slowly and abiding by traffic restrictions.
Mr Greaney says: “He did what he was supposed to do on this trip.”
However, on his journey back home, Mr Greaney says he drove differently.
He says: “He drove in a markedly more aggressive way than he had done while driving in, jumping lanes and undertaking other vehicles.”
Doyle was picking up a friend from Liverpool
11:10 , Alex RossPaul Greaney KC, prosecuting, says Doyle was in Liverpool after he agreed to drop and pick up his friend and family, who were Liverpool fans, from the parade.
He says: “That the defendant was initially motivated that day by kindness only serves to make what he did later the more staggering.”
Vehicle was ‘free from defects’
11:09 , Holly EvansThe court heard that Doyle was an experienced driver and had been driving for 25 years at the time of the offence.
After his arrest, Doyle never claimed that his Ford Galaxy suffered from any defects, and investigators who examined the vehicle confirmed it had no faults.
“The braking system on the Galaxy was free from defects and so Paul Doyle will have had full braking control as he drove along Dale Street and Water Street,” Mr Greaney KC said. “In other words, if the defendant had wanted to bring the vehicle to a stop, there was nothing to prevent him from doing so.”
His view was also not impeded and the suspension system was also free from defects.
“The upshot of all of that is, as the defendant has now accepted, that he did what he did intentionally,” he said.
High emotion in court during playing of dashcam footage
11:02 , Alex RossAs that dashcam footage was played, there were gasps from the packed public gallery in the court. Several are seen wiping tears from their eyes.
Some of the people in court will have been there during the incident, and the playing of the footage has understandably led to emotion.
'Shocking' dashcam footage played to courtroom
10:59 , Alex RossThe court is now played dashcam footage from Doyle’s Ford Galaxy vehicle as it heads down Dale Street, before entering Water Street.
Paul Greaney KC, prosecuting, warns the court: “What we are about to display on the screens is truly shocking.”
The footage shows the vehicle being driven through crowds of Liverpool supporters who frantically attempt to jump out of the way.
At one point, several people land on the bonnet of the vehicle, and the windscreen is smashed.
When the car stops, people run up the vehicle. One man shouts “get the f*** out of the car”.
Before showing it, Mr Greaney says: “The footage shows the defendant’s driving from a point at just before he encountered traffic management measures (in the form of cones) on Dale Street.
“His driving had been dangerous even before this point, but what we are about to see represents the most serious aspect of his conduct.”
Doyle 'lost his temper' and drove into crowds in a 'rage'
10:54 , Holly EvansThe court has heard that Doyle into the crowds in an act of “rage”, and that he was not under the influence of any drugs nor did his vehicle malfunction.
Paul Greaney KC said: “The truth is a simple one. Paul Doyle just lost his temper in his desire to get to where he wanted to get to. In a rage, he drove into the crowd.
“When he did so, he intended to cause people within the crowd serious harm. He was prepared to cause those in the crowd, even children, serious harm if necessary to achieve his aim of getting through. So, the truth is as simple as the consequences were awful.”
Doyle ‘used vehicle as a weapon'
10:52 , Alex RossProsecutor Paul Greaney KC is providing an opening statement for the sentencing, in which he is explaining what happened on the day of the Liverpool parade.
He says as the parade was finishing, Doyle drove his Ford Galaxy vehicle into Liverpool, and drove into Water Street, which was busy with pedestrians.
From this stage, Mr Greaney says he drove dangerously and “frightening people as he do so”.
He adds that at 5.59pm, he went through traffic measures to go into Water Street.
Mr Greaney says: “What had happened in that short period between 5.59 pm and 6.01 pm is that the defendant had driven his vehicle into a collision with well over 100 people, causing injuries including serious injuries to many and, when the vehicle was brought to a halt, people including children were trapped beneath it.
“The prosecution case is that the defendant had used the vehicle as a weapon over that period of time. In doing so, he not only caused injury on a large scale, but also generated horror in those who had attended what they had thought would be a day of joyfulness.”
Hearing starts as Doyle arrives in court
10:48 , Alex RossPaul Doyle arrives in the courtroom dock, and confirms his name before sitting down.
He is wearing a white shirt and black suit. He puts his head down as the hearing begins.
Courtroom now filling up
10:34 , Alex RossHardly a seat is now free inside the courtroom as we wait for Judge Andrew Menary KC.
Paul Doyle is yet to appear in the dock.
The case will start with an opening statement by Crown Prosecution Prosecutor Paul Greaney KC.
Doyle's driving was an act of 'calculated violence', CPS said
10:33 , Holly EvansChief Crown prosecutor Sarah Hammond said: “By entering guilty pleas, Doyle has finally accepted that he intentionally drove into crowds of innocent people during Liverpool FC’s victory parade.
“Dashcam footage from Doyle’s vehicle shows that as he approached Dale Street and Water Street, he became increasingly agitated by the crowds. Rather than wait for them to pass, he deliberately drove at them, forcing his way through.
“Driving a vehicle into a crowd is an act of calculated violence. This was not a momentary lapse by Paul Doyle – it was a choice he made that day and it turned celebration into mayhem.”
Police officers stationed outside courtroom
10:25 , Holly EvansOur reporter Alex Ross writes...
As we wait for the start of today's sentencing hearing for Paul Doyle, there are five police officers in the foyer outside the courtroom. Merseyside Police have clearly taken security precautions given the public interest in the case.
So far, only legal parties, police and members of the public have been allowed in the court.
The case is due to start at 10.30am.
How did the carnage at Liverpool's victory parade unfold?
10:21 , Holly EvansThousands of Liverpool fans were in the city on the day of Doyle’s attack to watch the parade, which started at 2.30pm and travelled 15km before entering the city centre.
The team bus had travelled down The Strand, which passes the end of Water Street, before the incident and the parade was coming to a close, with supporters heading home.
In May, Merseyside Police said they believed the driver had followed an ambulance on to Water Street after a road block was temporarily lifted for crews to attend to a person having a heart attack.
It is understood the prosecution case would have been that Doyle lost his temper as he drove down Dale Street and into Water Street. His car collided with 100 men, women and children, causing serious injuries and trapping people underneath his Ford Galaxy Titanium.
The youngest victim was six-month-old Teddy Eveson, whose parents later told media he was thrown about 15 feet down the road in his pram when the crash happened.
He was brought to a stop when a member of the public got into the back of the automatic car and held the gear selection in park.
Pictured: Paul Doyle
10:04 , Holly Evans
Journalists and victims gather to attend sentencing
09:55 , Holly EvansOur reporter Alex Ross writes...
We are at Liverpool Crown Court this morning for the sentencing of Paul Doyle, who pleaded guilty to 31 charges after driving a car into crowds at the Liverpool Premier League-winning parade in May.
The sentencing is taking place in a courtroom on the fourth floor of the building. Such is the interest, there is also an overflow courtroom set up for journalists and interested parties.
Outside the court, there is a long queue of people waiting to get through security.
We are expecting the hearing to begin at around 10.30am, with sentencing scheduled to last two days.
Paramedic hit by car during Liverpool parade feared it was a terror attack
09:53 , Holly EvansA paramedic who was knocked over at the Liverpool parade crash said he saw Paul Doyle’s car come back towards him and believed he was in the middle of a terrorist incident.
Jay Vernon, 34, was on duty as a cycle response paramedic for North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) in Liverpool city centre on 26 May when he was called to a reported cardiac arrest in Water Street, just after the victory parade had ended.
Doyle, 54, is due to be sentenced on Monday for 31 offences related to the crash, which happened when he ploughed into crowds of fans making their way back from the city’s waterfront after the Premier League victory celebration.
Mr Vernon said he had been making his way along Water Street on foot in front of an ambulance when he was hit by Doyle’s car.
He said: “I was struck with almighty force from behind, which has then sent me flying over to the right hand side, and I landed in the gutter on Water Street.
“I’ve put my hands out to brace myself, as you normally would, and then, as I’ve been in the gutter, there was a number of people around me and on the floor.
“As I’ve looked left, I’ve seen a car. I’ve then seen the car reverse lights come on and it start heading back up towards Water Street.
“It was at that point in my mind, I immediately thought, ‘I’m in the middle of a terrorist incident’.”
He only suffered grazes in the incident and was able to press the emergency button on his radio, sending a signal to all vehicles on the network, and told the dispatcher: “I’ve been struck by a vehicle. I’m on Water Street and there are multiple casualties.”
He seemed like the perfect family man. Then he brought chaos to Liverpool
09:38 , Holly EvansAs tens of thousands of thousands of Liverpool football supporters celebrated their team’s success in the city centre, six miles away, in a leafy cul-de-sac, neighbours spotted a father-of-three slowly reverse out of his drive and pull away.
Believed to have dropped off the family of a work colleague in the city earlier that day, Paul Doyle, now 54, looked to be heading back out to collect them. “Paul, being Paul, the good guy he was, he’d have offered to collect them,” said a neighbour.
But the father-of-three never returned to his home.
Read the full story here:
The ‘perfect’ family man who brought chaos to Liverpool in 7 minutes of violence
Paul Doyle to be sentenced over two days
09:25 , Holly EvansThe sentencing of Paul Doyle is due to take place on both Monday and Tuesday, after he seriously injured crowds of people by driving into football fans celebrating Liverpool’s victory parade.
The 54-year-old changed his plea to guilty in November and admitted 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.
Our reporter Alex Ross will be at Liverpool Crown Court bringing you all the latest updates.
Paul Doyle, the ex-Royal Marine who turned celebration into devastation at Liverpool parade
09:21 , Holly EvansHe was a family man, highly respected in his community. But today, Paul Doyle faces a lengthy prison sentence after admitting driving a car into a crowd at Liverpool’s victory parade – turning a day of celebration into devastation.
From the outside, Doyle appeared to have it all.
Neighbours say he was happily married with three children and lived in a detached four-bedroom home in a leafy area of Liverpool.
He was fit and appeared to have been successful in his career – an ex-Royal Marine Commando who had later run his own firm before working in cybersecurity.
Read the full article from reporter Alex Ross here:
Paul Doyle, the ex-Royal Marine who turned celebration into devastation
