A day meant for celebration in Liverpool earlier this year descended into horror when Paul Doyle, 54, deliberately drove his car into crowds during Liverpool FC’s Premier League victory parade. Now, Doyle has been sentenced to 21 years and six months in prison for his actions, which injured over 130 people and left lasting scars on many. He must serve at least two-thirds of this lengthy sentence.
On May 26th, a joyous occasion for thousands turned into a nightmare. Doyle tearfully pleaded guilty to 31 charges, including dangerous driving and multiple counts of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent. Distressing dashcam footage, shown in court, captured the horrifying moments he drove into a baby’s pram, overturning it, and continued driving even as a woman was trapped beneath his vehicle. Prosecutors stated Doyle “completely lost his temper and used his car as a weapon,” intending to cause serious harm.
The impact on victims has been profound. Six-month-old Teddy Eveson was thrown 15 feet from his pram. Seventy-seven-year-old Susan Passey spent nearly a month in hospital, fearing she may never walk unaided again. Another survivor, who battled stage 3C cancer, tragically shared that this trauma took him to “a darker place than even my cancer battle did.” The judge, Andrew Menary KC, described Doyle’s driving as “prolonged and shockingly bad,” driven by “impatience and arrogance.”
Doyle’s actions shattered a day of civic pride, turning it into a scene of fear and panic. While his belated guilty plea offered some closure, the physical and emotional wounds of his victims will endure. Justice has been served, but the memory of that terrifying day will forever overshadow the intended celebration.
Source: https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/paul-doyle-sentenced-21-years-36407914
