The man who drove into people celebrating Liverpool’s 2024/25 Premier League title triumph has been sentenced to more than 21 years in prison for causing scenes of “horror and devastation”.
Paul Doyle, 54, wept in the dock as victim impact statements detailed the lasting physical and psychological scars suffered by those caught up in the incident on the 26th of May.
Judge Andrew Menary told Doyle that what should have been a day of communal celebration had instead left a “lasting legacy of fear, injury and loss”.
“Your actions caused horror and devastation on a scale not previously encountered by this court,” the judge said.
Dashcam footage played in court showed Doyle getting increasingly angry as he drove his vehicle through the crowd, hurling insults and screaming as he veered directly into people.
“The impact extended far beyond those named on the indictment,” Judge Menary said, noting that parents, children, police officers, tourists, and passers-by had all been caught up in events initially feared to be a terror attack.
Judge Menary emphasised that Doyle’s disregard for human life “defies ordinary understanding”.
Prosecutor Paul Greaney told Liverpool Crown Court that Doyle had used his vehicle as a weapon, injuring 134 people in under 10 minutes.
“He lost his temper in his desire to get to where he wanted to go,” Mr Greaney said. “In a rage, he drove into the crowd intending to cause serious harm.”
Doyle pleaded guilty last month to 31 charges, including grievous bodily harm with intent, wounding with intent, affray, and dangerous driving.
He had previously denied the charges but changed his plea on the second day of his November trial, admitting all counts, which relate to 29 victims aged between six months and 77 years.
