Liverpool parade attacker told police he'd 'ruined' his family's life

Paul Doyle is due to be sentenced on Tuesday after pleading guilty to 31 offences relating to seriously injuring people during the victory parade in May.

Tuesday 16 December 2025 00:52, UK

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Liverpool parade attacker Paul Doyle told police he'd "ruined" his family's life after driving into more than 100 people at a Premier League title parade, a court has heard.

Monday's sentencing hearing was told the 54-year-old was "in a rage" and his "anger had completely taken hold of him" when he used his car as a "weapon" to plough through more than 100 people celebrating Liverpool's title win back in May.

The court heard he told officers: "I've just ruined my family's life."

Doyle is due to be sentenced today after pleading guilty to 31 offences relating to seriously injuring people during the victory parade on 26 May.

Doyle, described as a "family man" by prosecutors, wept as footage of the horrific rampage was shown to the city's crown court several times on Monday.

'Hero' pedestrian climbed into car

Paul Greaney KC, prosecuting, described the actions of Daniel Barr, who he called the "hero" of the day.

Mr Barr, an ex-soldier, had "bravely" jumped into the back of Doyle's Ford Galaxy and placed the vehicle into park.

He was walking up Water Street when he noted the defendant's Ford Galaxy in the distance, said Mr Greaney, noting the crowd's attitude changed from "joyous to desperate".

Doyle's vehicle then stopped next to Mr Barr "all of a sudden".

"Daniel Barr instinctively pulled open the rear passenger-side door and climbed in. He did so with the intention of stopping the driver," the prosecutor said.

Mr Barr leaned forward and moved the gear into "park" and "held it as hard as he could".

Mr Greaney added: "The Galaxy did not stop immediately, but in the end it did."

The prosecutor said police officers forced Doyle into a police van after the attack.

This, he said, was done "in the midst of a hostile crowd", adding that officers' behaviour was both "brave and effective".

When Doyle was securely in the van, Mr Greaney said police body-worn camera footage picked up him saying: "I've just ruined my family's life."

Doyle 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 last month.

He had previously denied the offences, which relate to 29 victims aged between six months old and 77 years old.

'Truly shocking'

The court was shown dashcam footage taken from the defendant's car showing the attack.

Mr Greaney warned the court: "What we are about to display on the screens is truly shocking."

There were audible gasps in the courtroom as the footage played.

Doyle could be heard repeatedly shouting at pedestrians to "move out the f****** way" as he drove through crowds.

Consistently using his vehicle's horn, people could be seen trying to jump out of the way, with some forced on to the bonnet of the car.

"F****** pr****," Doyle shouts as the footage continues.

By the end of the footage, people begin to attempt to run up to the vehicle.

When the car stops, one man shouts, "get the f*** out of the car".

Mr Greaney also detailed some of the injuries sustained by victims on the day of the attack.

One woman, aged 66, spent four nights in hospital after breaking six ribs and suffering fractures to her fingers on her left hand and her left wrist.

Another woman, aged 77 at the time, spent 27 days in hospital.

The prosecutor said she suffered a fractured left forearm, fractured left collar bone, three fractured ribs, a fractured pelvis, a broken nose, as well as multiple abrasions and bruising to her head, knees and back.

Another victim, who was 17, suffered bruising to their legs, shoulder and had a small fracture to their tibia.

After suffering wound infections, it took two months before the victim regained mobility, the prosecutor added.

Victims of parade attack speak of 'psychological injury' and 'flashbacks'

The victims of Paul Doyle's attack during Liverpool's Premier League victory parade have spoken of how they have suffered from "emotional and psychological injury" as well as "frequent flashbacks".

A total of 78 people submitted victim statements to the court, in which they described how the "best day ever" soon became the worst.

Doyle sobbed as the words of one victim, a 12-year-old boy, were read out by prosecutor Philip Astbury at Liverpool Crown Court.

The child, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said: "I found myself on the floor having been hit by a car I did not see coming, I have never felt so scared before in my life."

The boy’s mother said in her statement her heart sank when she saw her child inert on the floor.

She said the incident "caused me much anxiety having to watch my son deal with the pain, the frustration, him feeling down and isolated from his friends in school, the nightmares and the after-effects on him".

The boy's mother added: "The sight of my son lying motionless on the road, not moving for those few seconds, and the sound of the car hitting people will live with me forever."

Another mother said she thought her baby son had died after his pram was catapulted into the air after being struck by Doyle's vehicle, adding that she thought she would "be next".

Sheree Aldridge, 37, said her partner Dan Eveson had proudly dressed their six-month-old son Teddy Eveson in his Liverpool FC shirt that day and "was excited to share this moment" with him.

She said in the statement: "In that moment I thought I was going to die. I didn't know where Dan and Teddy was.

"I felt an overwhelming pain in my leg and looked up to see Teddy's pushchair on its side further up the road. I thought my Teddy was dead.

"I thought I was next. I thought my children would grow up without a mother."

The court also heard how a third mother, whose 13-year-old son was injured, said she has trouble sleeping due to flashbacks and has visions of her son's "terrified face".

Mr Greaney said some people at the scene on 26 May "thought that what was taking place was a terrorist attack".

However, the prosecution ruled out that the defendant's actions were "driven by ideology".

Police investigations showed there was no problem with the vehicle, and Doyle was completely sober and "free of all drugs", Mr Greaney said.

"The truth is a simple one - Paul Doyle just lost his temper in his desire to get to where he wanted to get to.

"In a rage, he drove into the crowd," he added.

Doyle was arrested at the scene in Water Street just after 6pm and charged later that week.

The youngest victim was six-month-old Teddy Eveson, whose parents later told media he was thrown about 15ft down the road in his pram when the crash happened.

Doyle, of Croxteth, Liverpool, admitted attempting to cause grievous bodily harm to the baby.

Five other children, whom Doyle either injured or attempted to injure, cannot be named for legal reasons.

Liverpool parade attacker told police he'd 'ruined' his family's life

Victims of parade attack speak of 'psychological injury' and 'flashbacks'

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