A father of three facing charges following a car collision that injured 79 people at the Liverpool victory parade has been identified as a former Royal Marine.
Football fans were celebrating the team`s Premier League title victory when a vehicle drove into the crowds on Monday afternoon.
Paul Doyle, from the West Derby area of Liverpool, was apprehended after courageous supporters tried to break the car windows when the vehicle seemingly stopped.
The 53-year-old has now been charged with dangerous driving, intentionally causing grievous bodily harm (GBH), wounding with intent to cause GBH, and attempted GBH.
Doyle has been held in custody and is scheduled to appear at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court today.
These charges follow Merseyside Police quickly dismissing terrorism as a possible motive for the incident.
Sarah Hammond, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS Mersey-Cheshire, stated: “The investigation is in its initial phase. Prosecutors and police are diligently working to examine a large amount of evidence, including various video recordings and many witness accounts. Ensuring that every victim receives justice is crucial. The charges will be reviewed as the investigation advances. We understand that Monday`s disturbing events had a wide impact across Liverpool and the entire nation, on what should have been a celebratory day for hundreds of thousands of Liverpool FC fans. Our deepest sympathies are with everyone affected.”
Doyle was formerly a Royal Marine commando but is now believed to be a businessman whose company is no longer active.
He previously participated in triathlons and took luxury vacations.
Neighbors in his quiet residential area stated his wife reportedly learned of the crash only after seeing the vehicle on the news.
Police have been present outside his four-bedroom family home, where he resides with his wife, a teacher, and their three children, since Monday.
The chaotic incident occurred on Monday as thousands of Liverpool supporters filled the streets to watch the title-winning team parade the Premier League trophy on an open-top bus.
This was the first opportunity for fans to celebrate a title victory with a parade since 1990, as their success in 2020 happened during the pandemic.
However, the celebrations quickly became horrific when a dark grey Ford Galaxy unexpectedly appeared on Water Street.
Merseyside Police confirmed that the car had followed an ambulance past the established cordon, which was set up as medical personnel were attending to someone with a suspected heart attack.
Mobile phone video captured the car driving into the crowd, accompanied by sounds of screaming.
The vehicle then stopped briefly, prompting brave fans to approach, attempting to pull the driver out.
But the car suddenly moved forward again, causing pedestrians to scatter before it finally stopped completely.
Firefighters arrived on the scene and found four individuals, including a child, trapped under the vehicle. They worked quickly to rescue them.
Approximately 79 people were taken to hospital, with two, including a child, sustaining serious injuries.
Police confirmed on Wednesday that seven people remain hospitalized in stable condition.
Harry Rashid, 48, who was attending the parade with his wife and two young daughters, recounted: “It occurred about ten feet away from us. We couldn`t control our position as the street was very narrow. The vehicle approached from our right, appearing right beside a parked ambulance. It came from the right and crashed into everyone next to us. It was moving quickly. The noise was terrifying.”
Merseyside Police reiterated that the incident was not being investigated as terror-related and stated the driver is a white British man.
Sir Keir Starmer also issued a statement, saying: “The scenes in Liverpool are dreadful – my thoughts are with everyone injured or impacted. I commend the police and emergency services for their prompt and continued response to this disturbing event. I am being regularly informed about the situation and urge that we allow the police the necessary space to conduct their investigation.”
Meanwhile, Liverpool FC released a statement: “We are in direct communication with Merseyside Police concerning the incident on Water Street that occurred near the conclusion of the trophy parade this evening. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by this serious occurrence. We will continue to provide our complete support to the emergency services and local authorities managing this situation.”
