Liverpool parade attacker Paul Doyle has been sentenced to 21 years and six months in prison after he deliberately drove into crowds of people during Liverpool FC’s Premier League title parade.
Following a two-day trial, Doyle, 54, was sentenced by judge Andrew Menary KC at Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday (December 16) and has been jailed after he admitted driving into crowds of fans gathered on Water Street in Liverpool city centre on May 26.
The 54-year-old-father-of-three, who is a former Royal Marine, from Croxteth in north Liverpool, injured 134 people aged between six months and 77 years.
Doyle pleaded guilty to 31 offences relating to 29 victims in November.
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The charges include dangerous driving, 17 counts of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent and nine counts of causing GBH with intent and three counts of wounding with intent.
While handing out the sentence, Menary KC said in just a two-minute period, Doyle used his vehicle – a grey Ford Galaxy - as a “weapon” during a “rampage” in which he “drove over limbs and crushed prams” causing “scenes of devastation”.
Doyle looked down as the judge addressed him and read through victim impact statements, having earlier appeared emotional during court appearances.
Doyle was sober at the time of the attack, and dash cam footage played to the court showed him swearing at people gathered at the parade.
During sentencing, Simon Csoka KC, representing Doyle, said that he is "horrified" by his actions.
"He’s remorseful, ashamed and deeply sorry for all those who have suffered," Csoka KC said.
"He accepts full responsibility, he expects no sympathy."
Daniel Barr, 41, who stopped Doyle from driving further into the crowd, was praised for his actions during sentencing and received a High Sheriff’s Award for Bravery while also receiving a £250 monetary reward.
Barr, a former solider, insisted that he was "not a hero" despite his selfless act. As reported by BBC News, the 41-year-old got inside the car and forced the gear selector into park mode stopping Doyle from driving further.
Barr also said that he is "not the same" since the tragic incident.
"We've gone from total chaos - panic, screaming - to relative silence as he's accelerated off," he said.
"Then you can just hear the people being hit and run over, like ten-pin bowling, pretty horrendous. I could see everything from where I was.
"I could see people's faces, I could see the looks of just, like they were trying to plead but wasting their time.
"That's all that they could do, there was nowhere to go, nowhere to get out of the way for them."
Liverpool FC and Merseyside Police statements
Liverpool Football Club released a statement shortly after the sentence was confirmed.
"Liverpool FC would like to remind supporters that a variety of free resources are available for anyone affected by this incident to access to care for their mental health," read part of the statement.
Merseyside Police also issued a statement on behalf of Detective Chief Inspector John Fitzgerald which read: "On what should have been a day of celebration for the city Doyle chose to act in an aggressive and dangerous manner with no regard for the safety and wellbeing of other people.
“No prison sentence will be able to undo his actions on that day or heal those who continue to suffer physically and psychologically as a result of what they endured and witnessed on the streets of the city.
“Our thoughts remain with everyone affected and I hope that now the judicial process has finished those people will be able to start moving on and rebuild their lives.
“I hope that the prison sentence will also give Doyle the chance to reflect on his actions and they impact they had."
Topics: Liverpool, Premier League
Luke Davies