Francesca Massey told Doyle's sentencing: "The incident in Liverpool has also reopened emotional wounds"
The emergency scene on Water Street, Liverpool after Paul Doyle drove his car into the Liverpool parade crowds back in May 2025
The emergency scene on Water Street, Liverpool after Paul Doyle drove his car into the Liverpool parade crowds back in May 2025
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A woman hit by Paul Doyle's car at this year's Liverpool parade was also a victim of the Ariana Grande terrorist attack in Manchester. Francesca Massey, 24, said her experiences at the Reds' title-winning celebrations had "brought back vivid memories" of the Manchester Arena bombing in May 2017, a terrorist suicide bombing which killed 22 people and injured over 1,000 others.
She was on Water Street when Doyle ploughed his two-tonne Ford Galaxy into crowds of fans who had gathered in Liverpool city centre to celebrate the Reds' 20th Premier League title earlier this year. More than 100 people, ranging from babies to pensioners, were injured after being struck by the car on Water Street 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, 54 and of Burghill Road in West Derby, admitted a total of 31 charges last month.
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 on Monday. He is expected to learn his sentence later today.
Dozens of victim personal statements have been read to the court by the prosecution, from people who continue to suffer from the trauma they experienced. The statements detailed job losses, the slow recovery from injuries, fears of crowds and continued flashbacks.
Ms Massey told the court: "I have not been left with any physical effects from the incident, the bruises have long since healed, yet since being struck by a car during the Liverpool parade on the 26th of May, my life has been significantly affected both psychologically and emotionally.
"I now find it extremely difficult to visit or be in busy places. Situations that involve crowds or heavy traffic cause my anxiety to become heightened. Even walking along a main road can trigger feelings of fear and panic.
"The incident in Liverpool has also reopened emotional wounds from a previous traumatic experience, where I was a victim of the Ariana Grande terrorist attack in Manchester.
"The recent event brought back vivid memories of that night, the same overwhelming fear, the moment of stillness before chaos and the desperate rush to escape with the crowd of innocent people around me. This is something I felt I had overcome over the past 8 years, and now I feel like I have been set back again, as it reawakened previous trauma."
Ali Massey, 19, added: "The 26th of May left me with many scars, those physical only lasted a matter of days but the emotional and psychological pain I have been feeling has significantly affected my life ever since.
"For 30 minutes I believed that all of my family and friends were dead, taken away from me within a matter of seconds. I do not believe I could possibly describe how unbearably painful that was to experience or how difficult it is to relive.
"I can vividly place myself just mere moments before the attack happened, the screams so clear, the mass herds of people left scattered on the floor. I had only milliseconds of time before I met the same fate, no time to react but hours to think about it afterwards.
"I have realised that since this event, I have this overriding thought of 'I could be dead now'. leaving every decision feeling tainted. Sometimes I find myself crying with no warning, and this makes me feel extremely vulnerable."
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.