A former Royal Marine wept in court as he admitted driving into crowds at Liverpool’s Premier League victory parade.
Paul Doyle, 54, was due to go on trial at Liverpool Crown Court over the incident on 26 May, when more than a million fans were gathered in the city centre to celebrate the football team’s 20th title win.
He had previously denied 31 charges, but sobbed in the dock, with his voice, at times, barely audible, as he dramatically changed his pleas to guilty.
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.
Recorder of Liverpool Judge Andrew Menary KC remanded Doyle in custody ahead of a two-day sentencing hearing from 15 December, telling him a long prison sentence is “inevitable”.
Doyle, a married father-of-three, hit more than 100 people in just seven minutes with his Ford Galaxy Titanium at around 6pm as crowds made their way home from the open-top bus parade.
The charges relate to 29 victims, aged between six months and 77 years old, including eight who were children at the time.
The parents of the youngest victim, Teddy Eveson, later told media he was thrown about 15 feet down the road in his pram when the crash happened.
Another victim Rob Darke, who was left with a “life-changing” injury after attending the parade with his two sons, told Sky News he thought it was a terrorist attack.
“There was people lying about all over the place. It was like a bomb had gone off… it was carnage everywhere… people crying and screaming,” he said.
“I thought it was terrorists. That’s the first thing that came into my head. Who else would do a thing like that?”
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‘Turned celebration to mayhem’
Prosecutors said dashcam footage from Doyle’s car showed he became “increasingly agitated by the crowds” as he approached Dale Street and Water Street.
“Rather than wait for them to pass, he deliberately drove at them, forcing his way through,” said Sarah Hammond, chief crown prosecutor for CPS Mersey-Cheshire.
“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.”
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Detective Chief Inspector John Fitzgerald, of Merseyside Police, said: “It is only by sheer luck that nobody was killed because of Doyle’s reckless actions.
“In just seven minutes his dangerous driving meant that his car collided with more than 100 people, including children, in some cases trapping people underneath and causing serious injuries.”
A Liverpool FC spokesman said: “Our victory parade last May allowed an unprecedented number of Liverpool fans to celebrate together our Premier League title win – something we were unable to do in 2020.
“The day of incredible joy ended in unimaginable circumstances and we hope today’s conviction brings some peace to all those affected by the horrific incident. Our thoughts are with them all.”
