Paul Doyle is facing sentencing after admitting a total of 31 charges on the day he was due to stand trial
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A 12-year-old boy who was injured when Paul Doyle ploughed his car into crowds of fans during Liverpool FC's Premier League victory parade has told a court how what began as "the best day ever" became the most terrifying experience of his life. Doyle 54 and of Burghill Road in West Derby, admitted a total of 31 charges last month.
More than 100 pedestrians, ranging from babies to a 78-year-old woman, were injured after being struck by the Ford Galaxy on Water Street in Liverpool city centre shortly after 6pm on Monday, May 26, as what was meant to be a day of joy turned into scenes of devastation and terror. Fifty casualties required hospital treatment in the aftermath of the appalling incident, with all of them later discharged.
Doyle tearfully changed his pleas to guilty on the day he was due to go on trial and returned to Liverpool Crown Court in order to be sentenced today, Monday, December 15. His sentencing is now due to take place over the course of two days on Monday and Tuesday.
Crime Scene Investigators at the scene of the Liverpool FC parade incident on Water Street
Crime Scene Investigators at the scene of the Liverpool FC parade incident on Water Street
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Victim personal statements were read to the court on Monday by junior prosecution counsel Philip Astbury, including a statement from a 12-year-old boy injured in the incident.
In his statement, the boy said the day had started with excitement as he waited to see his "heroes" pass by on an open-top bus, but quickly turned into "the worst day of my life".
He said: "It started off as the best day ever, I was so excited to see my heroes go past on the open top bus, and the party atmosphere was amazing, but soon the day changed to the worst day of my life.
"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. I was split up from my mum, I felt lost, confused, didn’t know what was happening to me or why.
"I have developed a fear of crowded places since the incident, I get very anxious when crossing roads and sometimes I freeze, I need my mum to reassure me I am safe. I get a fright when I hear a car horn or the revving or noise of a speeding car.
"I have had a couple of nightmares about the incident, but all I can recall afterwards is people screaming and panicking.
"I often replay the incident in my head, I don’t know why I do this, maybe it’s to try and make some sense of what happened, but nothing makes sense which frustrates me.
"My mum has been so supportive, but I feel really upset when I see my mum crying. I don’t understand why the man in the car has done this to me and my mum."
Paul Doyle, wiping away tears as he appears at Liverpool Crown Court during his sentencing hearing
Paul Doyle, wiping away tears as he appears at Liverpool Crown Court during his sentencing hearing
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The boy’s mum said in her own statement: "My happiness turned to despair. I got separated from my son. I found myself on the floor, my first thought as a parent, ‘where is my son?’ I then saw him motionless on the floor, he wasn’t moving, my heart sank for several seconds then I saw him move, those seconds seemed like a lifetime.
"I felt helpless, I couldn’t explain to my son what had happened, I was supposed to look after him and this happened right in front of me, and I couldn’t do anything to stop it. I felt I’d let my son down and now he was in hospital. I felt I was not in control and helpless. I can tell you as a mother this is an awful feeling.
"My injuries have since healed but it’s the aftermath I have found hard to cope with and has 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 aftereffects on him.
"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."
The charges Doyle has admitted included 17 charges of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent. The complainants in these matters were named as six-month-old Teddy Eveson, other boys and girls aged seven months, 10, 11, 13, as well as adults Jack Trotter, Jon Evans, Scott Dolan, Ashton Gilmore, Jacqueline McClaren, Jamie Fagan, Carl Martin, James Vernon, Emily Wright, David Price, James Weston and Ethan Gillard.
A further nine counts which he pleaded guilty to stated that he caused grievous bodily harm with intent to Helen Gilmore, Anna Bilonozhenko, Sheree Aldridge, Sam Alexander, Hannah O’Neill, Stefan Dettlaf, Christine Seeckts, Susan Passey and Aaron Cothliff. He finally faces sentence for three offences of wounding with intent against a 12-year-old boy, Simon Nash and Robin Darke, as well as matters of affray and dangerous driving.
It is anticipated that Doyle, who is represented by Simon Csoka KC and Damian Nolan, will not be sentenced by the Honorary Recorder of Liverpool Judge Andrew Menary KC until tomorrow, Tuesday. The hearing continues, with the ECHO providing live updates from courtroom 41.