Paul Doyle sentenced to more than 21 years in prison for using car as weapon at Liverpool FC parade
A leading criminal justice professor has said that the sentence handed down to Paul Doyle following the Liverpool FC parade incident ‘reflects the devastating human and civic consequences of the attack’.
Paul Doyle was sentenced to 21 years and six months in prison after pleading guilty to 31 offences relating to seriously injuring people at the Liverpool Football Club victory parade celebrations on May 26.
Doyle, 54, appeared in the dock at Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday (December 16), for his two-day sentencing hearing after pleading guilty to 31 offences relating to seriously injuring people during the incident.
On November 26, Doyle, formerly of West Derby, pleaded guilty to 17 counts of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent, nine counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, three counts of wounding, and one count each of dangerous driving and affray.
Prosecutors told the court that, in the space of just two minutes, Doyle’s Ford Galaxy – weighing 1.9 tonnes – had hit “well over 100 people” and he was “prepared to cause those in the crowd, even children, serious harm if necessary to achieve his aim of getting through”.
Liverpool Crown Court was told the 54-year-old flew into a “rage” and ploughed through more than 100 people in the space of two minutesplaceholder image
Liverpool Crown Court was told the 54-year-old flew into a “rage” and ploughed through more than 100 people in the space of two minutes | Peter Byrne/PA Wire
Jonathan Doak, Professor of Criminal Justice at Nottingham Law School, said: "The court imposed a total sentence of 21 years and 6 months. That sentence reflects the devastating human and civic consequences of the attack and is consistent with what the guidelines and the facts of the case required.
“As such, the sentence was entirely predictable given the sheer scale and horror of the events that unfolded. Judge Andrew Menary KC made clear that this was an unprecedented mass‑injury event: large numbers of people suffered permanent and long‑term physical injuries, prolonged hospital treatment and surgery, and profound psychological harm including PTSD, anxiety, intrusive memories and disturbed sleep.
“The effects reached beyond individual victims to the city as a whole, with temporary triage arrangements, disruption to businesses and the particular vulnerability of very young children and elderly people in the crowd.
“The judge rejected Mr Doyle’s accounts of panic and minimisation. The evidence showed no momentary lapse or flash of rage by Doyle, but rather a sustained loss of temper in which a vehicle was used as a weapon against vulnerable pedestrians. Throughout police interviews, the defendant displayed little insight into his actions or acceptance of responsibility.
“While sentencing guidelines required the judge to take mitigating factors into account, including his family life, career, community work and character references, the judge was clear that this carried limited weight against the gravity and persistence of the attack and the nature and extent to the harm caused to the victims."
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