Paul Doyle, a 54-year-old former Royal Marine, has been sentenced to 21 years and six months in prison for driving his vehicle into a crowd of Liverpool Football Club supporters during a victory parade on May 26, 2025. The incident, described as a "truly shocking" act that "defies ordinary understanding," resulted in injuries to 134 people, including eight children.
Doyle was on his way to pick up friends when he became caught in the throng of jubilant fans celebrating Liverpool's Premier League title win. Instead of waiting for the crowd to disperse, Doyle, in a fit of rage, used his two-tonne Ford Galaxy to plow through the mass of people. Dashcam footage from Doyle's vehicle showed him accelerating aggressively towards the crowds, hitting numerous adults and children. Some victims were thrown onto the bonnet of the car, while others were dragged underneath. The footage also captured Doyle shouting abuse at the supporters, demanding they "move" out of his way.
The incident caused widespread panic and chaos, with people screaming and attempting to flee the path of the vehicle. Among the injured were two infants, aged six and seven months. Miraculously, no one was killed, but many suffered life-changing injuries and were left traumatized.
At Liverpool Crown Court, Judge Andrew Menary KC condemned Doyle's actions, stating that they caused "horror and devastation on a scale not previously experienced by this court". He described Doyle's behavior as an "inexplicable and undiluted fury" and said his "disregard for human life defies ordinary understanding". Prosecutor Paul Greaney stated that Doyle was "a man in a rage whose anger had completely taken hold of him" when he deliberately drove at the fans.
Doyle initially denied the 31 offenses he was charged with, including nine counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and 17 counts of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm. However, he later pleaded guilty on the second day of his trial. In addition to the prison sentence, Doyle's past violent behavior was revealed. He had a string of convictions in the early 1990s, including a one-year jail sentence for biting off a man's ear in a pub brawl. A former Royal Marines colleague described him as a "live wire" with a "horrendous flash to bang," indicating his tendency to react violently with little provocation. He was discharged from the Marines in 1993 following these convictions.
Detective Chief Inspector John Fitzgerald of Merseyside Police expressed his disbelief at Doyle's actions, stating that it was "sheer luck that no lives were lost". He described the dashcam footage as "the most graphic and distressing" video he had seen in his 20 years of policing.
The sentencing brought a somber conclusion to a case that shocked the city of Liverpool and the wider football community. Doyle's actions turned a day of celebration into one of tragedy, leaving a lasting impact on the victims and their families.
