The driver responsible for the catastrophic crash during Liverpool Football Club's victory parade has broken down in court while admitting his guilt for all 31 offences.
Emotional Courtroom Admission
Paul Doyle, a 54-year-old from Croxteth, Liverpool, sobbed uncontrollably as he changed his plea to guilty on the second day of his trial at Liverpool Crown Court. The defendant, who had previously denied all charges, sat with his head bowed and spoke in a broken voice while occasionally wiping away tears as the lengthy list of charges was read aloud on Wednesday, November 26.
Doyle admitted to dangerous driving, affray, 17 counts of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent, nine counts of causing GBH with intent, and three counts of wounding with intent. The courtroom witnessed emotional scenes as the former Royal Marine confronted the consequences of his actions.
The Tragic Day of Celebration
The incident occurred on May 26 when thousands of Liverpool fans gathered to celebrate their team's Premier League title victory. The parade had begun at 2.30pm and travelled 15km through the city, with the team bus passing The Strand near Water Street where the tragedy unfolded.
Just after 6pm, as the celebrations were drawing to a close and supporters began heading home, Doyle drove his Ford Galaxy Titanium into the crowds on Water Street. More than 130 people reported injuries following the collision, with victims ranging in age from just six months to 77 years old.
Merseyside Police investigations revealed that the driver had followed an ambulance onto Water Street after road blocks were temporarily lifted to allow emergency crews to attend to a person suffering a heart attack.
Youngest Victim and Legal Proceedings
Among the 29 victims named in the charges was six-month-old Teddy Eveson, whom Doyle admitted attempting to cause grievous bodily harm to. The infant's parents later disclosed to media that their son was thrown approximately 15 feet down the road in his pram during the incident.
Five other children involved in the case cannot be named for legal reasons. The charges relate specifically to 29 individuals, though many more were affected by the events of that day.
The trial had commenced on Tuesday, November 25, with a jury being sworn in, but proceedings took an unexpected turn when Doyle was asked to re-enter his pleas. The prosecution had been due to open its case when the dramatic change of plea occurred. Doyle was supported in court by family members during the emotional hearing, having previously been seen in tears during pre-trial appearances via videolink from prison.
The defendant was arrested at the scene immediately following the crash and charged later that same week. His sentencing will follow at a later date now that guilt has been established.
