Paul Doyle is facing sentencing after admitting a total of 31 charges on the day he was due to stand trial
The 54-year-old was 'completely sober' when he ploughed into more than 100 men, women and children on Water Street
The 54-year-old was 'completely sober' when he ploughed into more than 100 men, women and children on Water Street
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A mum who suffered concussion after being struck by Paul Doyle's car has told a court she endured "one of the worst things a mother could experience" after losing sight of her teenage son during Liverpool FC’s title-winning parade. The woman had attended the parade with her husband and their 14-year-old son when Doyle ploughed into crowds of fans who had been celebrating the Reds' 20th Premier League title earlier this year.
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.
Dozens of victim personal statements were read to the court on Monday by the prosecution, including a statement from a woman, who was in attendance with her husband and their 14-year-old son.
Paul Doyle court case
Paul Doyle court case
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She said: "I encountered one of the worst things a mother could experience. My son was missing. I couldn’t find him. There were people everywhere and I honestly believed that he was underneath the car. I shouted for him, crying and scared. It felt like an eternity, but then I found him. The relief is like nothing I’ve felt before. I hugged him tightly and was so relieved.
"I suffered concussion and this is still ongoing. I am still having physio on my wrist and back, and I was recently diagnosed with PTSD, and I am now having therapy. I have also been diagnosed with a condition called BPPV, which is positional vertigo. I have two cysts in the bone of my right wrist and have been told that I may have to have surgery. I am prescribed medication for anxiety.
"I work in a school and the children of the man arrested were in my school. Whilst they are not an issue in any way, it meant that I got moved to another school. This upset me as I knew all the staff and pupils. I had to go and say goodbye whilst I was off sick. I was off for about three-and-half-months and then started at a new school. All because of the events of that day. It has caused me further upset and stress.
"My son is only 14 and now has PTSD as a result of this incident. The car had driven over his right foot, and he is still having physio. He is starting to get back to living life, but he has become more angry about things, which is not like him. It has literally changed him.
"[My husband] is also affected by what happened and suffered a chip in his hip bone, along with whiplash and bruising. Like us all, [my husband] found this a very shocking incident, especially as his son was there and like me, he always wants to be able to keep him safe and happy. As his parents, that is our priority, yet this incident has torn that away from our grip and we must now rebuild ourselves and our family.
Paul Doyle seen wiping away tears as he appears at Liverpool Crown Court during his sentencing hearing
Paul Doyle seen wiping away tears as he appears at Liverpool Crown Court during his sentencing hearing
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"As a family we are not doing great emotionally. We are trying to normalise things, and I am trying to teach my son resilience as I feel that is so important. However, whilst the case is ongoing it is so hard to do it and we are having nightmares. The longer the man puts us all through this horrible criminal process, the more we struggle to understand why? Why would another human being do that to so many innocent people and children?"
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.