By James Simons-
A former Royal Marine, Paul Doyle, has admitted in court that he deliberately drove his car into a crowd celebrating Liverpool FC’s Premier League victory — an act that turned jubilation into horror and left more than 130 people injured, including children.
On 26 November 2025, at Liverpool Crown Court, Doyle changed his plea to guilty on 31 offences related to the rampage, including dangerous driving, multiple counts of causing and attempting grievous bodily harm with intent, wounding with intent, and affray. The charges stem from the chaotic incident on 26 May 2025, which occurred on Water Street and Dale Street in Liverpool city centre.
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On that day, thousands had gathered for a parade celebrating Liverpool’s title win; instead, what should have been a moment of joy descended into panic when Doyle accelerated down a crowded street in a Ford Galaxy Titanium.
Doyl, was in the area to pick up a friend and his family. Dashcam footage from his Ford Galaxy Titanium vehicle showed that as he approached Dale Street and Water Street, he became increasingly agitated by the crowds and a traffic management system in place.
Rather than waiting for the crowds to disperse, he deliberately accelerated his vehicle, forcing his way through the masses of people in a seven-minute rampage.
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Witnesses described the scene as “carnage everywhere, crying and screaming” as the two-tonne car collided with people, knocking them over “like skittles” and trapping some underneath its wheels. Emergency services, including Merseyside Police, North West Ambulance Service, and Merseyside Fire and Rescue, responded swiftly to the scene, with an air ambulance landing nearby.
Four people were physically removed from beneath the vehicle, a task that required the aid of fire crews. The vehicle was eventually brought to a halt when an outraged supporter managed to get inside the car and put the automatic gearbox into ‘park’. Police officers then intervened, arresting Doyle at the scene and taking him into a police van for his own safety as angry fans converged on the car.
The incident resulted in 134 people reporting injuries, with legal charges relating to 29 individual victims. Victims’ ages ranged from a six-month-old baby, Teddy Eveson, who was thrown about 15 feet in his pram, to a 77-year-old woman.
Over 100 people were injured, with at least 50 requiring hospital treatment, and many are still dealing with the physical and psychological effects.
Doyle faced 31 charges, including dangerous driving, affray, and multiple counts of causing or attempting to cause grievous bodily harm and wounding. Initially pleading not guilty in September 2025, his defense cited difficulties accessing him in prison and a false claim by Doyle about a “knifeman” causing him to panic.
Detective Chief Inspector John Fitzgerald emphasized that it was only “sheer luck” that prevented fatalities. Doyle is in custody awaiting sentencing on December 15 and 16, 2025, and has been warned that a “custodial sentence of some length” is expected. The incident is not considered terrorism.
The 54-year-old admitted dangerous driving, affray, 17 charges of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent, nine counts of causing GBH with intent and three counts of wounding with intent.
The Crown Prosecution Service said it was an “act of calculated violence” when Doyle drove into the crowd on the evening of the 26 May, injuring more than 130 people.
The father-of-three, of Croxteth, Liverpool, sat with his head down and sobbed as he changed his pleas on the second day of his trial at Liverpool Crown Court.
It is the beginning of a long journey toward recovery, healing, and, they hope, justice.
Prosecutors say CCTV, dash‑cam footage, and mobile-phone recordings clearly showed Doyle becoming “increasingly agitated” as he approached the crowd — and deliberately driving into it rather than waiting or turning back.
The scale of the harm is vast. According to the prosecution, 134 people were injured in the incident — the victims range in age from a six‑month‑old baby to a 77‑year-old adult. Among those injured were eight children.
As the court proceedings unfolded, many described the atmosphere as one of shock and disbelief. “He turned celebration into mayhem,” said the lead prosecutor at a hearing on Wednesday.
The defendant, visibly emotional as he pled guilty, was remanded into custody ahead of a sentencing hearing scheduled for 15–16 December 2025. The presiding judge warned that a “custodial sentence of some length” was inevitable.
The repercussions of the attack continue to reverberate across Liverpool and beyond. Victims and witnesses have described scenes of utter chaos — people thrown into the air, desperate scrambling, shrieking crowds and injured children left in prams. One survivor told reporters he initially thought the crash was a “terrorist attack.”
Among them is a baby, reportedly just six months old at the time, thrown from its pram after being struck. Others have spoken of life-changing injuries, long hospital stays, psychological trauma, and an enduring sense of insecurity even in public spaces. Local hospitals were reportedly overwhelmed in the immediate aftermath, with dozens of people in need of urgent care.
In response, officials have commended the swift and coordinated action of emergency services, paramedics, bystanders and the public — many of whom rushed to help the wounded despite the danger and confusion. “There can be no doubt that their actions saved lives,” said CPS Mersey-Cheshire Chief Crown Prosecutor Sarah Hammond.
Local community groups and victim‑support charities are now calling for long-term support for those injured — both physically and emotionally — and advocating for better safety measures at large public events. The attack has laid bare the vulnerability of even large crowds in what should be safe public celebration.
The sentencing next month will mark a crucial moment: for the victims seeking closure, for a city demanding justice, and for the legal system charged with responding to acts of mass violence with accountability and deterrence. City officials, including representatives of Liverpool FC, have pledged support — but many residents say the emotional scars will last far beyond the courtroom.
Meanwhile, investigators continue reviewing all evidence — including a comprehensive log of injuries, statements from over a hundred witnesses, and all available footage — to prepare for sentencing and potential further civil claims for damages.
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