Anna Bilonozhenko, who now lives in North Wales, suffered serious leg injuries when she was struck by Paul Doyle's car
More than 100 Liverpool FC fans attending a victory parade were injured
More than 100 Liverpool FC fans attending a victory parade were injured
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A woman who fled the war in Ukraine for North Wales has called the attack on fans during the Liverpool Football Club parade one of her "most traumatic experiences".
Anna Bilonozhenko suffered serious leg injuries when she was hit by Paul Doyle’s Ford Galaxy in Water Street. The 43-year-old had attended the event with her daughter Sasha, 22, as a way “to reconnect with something positive”.
It came after a difficult year in which Anna also lost her mum.
Doyle, of Croxteth, was today jailed for 21 years and six months following the incident on May 26. Anna told how she had clung on to the bonnet of Doyle’s vehicle so not to get dragged under the vehicle. Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now
But as Doyle stopped Anna fell off the bonnet on to the ground. Sasha managed to help drag her mum away from near the front tyres of Doyle’s vehicle. Seconds later he drove off into more people.
Anna, who does not wish to say where she lives in North Wales, suffered a fractured left leg. She required surgery to insert metalwork and a bone graft, and was unable to weight bear or leave her home for months following the incident. Her recovery from her injuries is still ongoing.
Paul Doyle was sentenced today
Paul Doyle was sentenced today (Image: PA Media)
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She is among a group injured by Doyle to have instructed expert serious injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to help them access the specialist support and rehab she requires. Anna is believed to be among those most seriously injured in the incident, said the law firm.
Anna, who with Sasha came to the UK from their home of Kyiv in 2024, said: “The move to the UK was extremely difficult. We had to leave behind our home, family, and everything familiar.
"Starting a new life in another country was both emotionally and physically challenging, but we tried to stay strong and rebuild our lives together. After a few months of grieving for my mum and slowly beginning to heal, I thought that spending a day out together might help lift our spirits and bring a bit of light back into our lives.
Court artist sketch by Elizabeth Cook of Paul Doyle, 53, appearing at Liverpool Crown Court
Paul Doyle in the dock(Image: PA)
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“As a Liverpool supporter, I believed the celebrations would be a way to reconnect with something positive. I never imagined that what began as a fun-filled day would turn into one of the most traumatic experiences of our lives."
Anna added: “When we were walking on Water Street back to the train station I saw people start to run in different directions. Then I saw a car coming straight towards us.
"Everything happened so quickly that I didn’t have time to react. I remember pushing Sasha out of the way and holding onto the bonnet.
"The pain was unbearable because my leg was broken, but I knew I had to try and hold on so I wouldn’t fall under the wheels and die. I was terrified, screaming in pain, completely confused and unable to understand what was happening.
“Suddenly, the car stopped and I realised that I was lying directly in front its wheels, and if it moved again, it would run over me.”
About six months on Anna and Sasha continue to live the effects of what happened. Anna added: “There were injured people lying on the ground everywhere and we thought some of them were dead.
“Since the incident, I’ve suffered from constant physical pain and significantly limited mobility. Even now, everyday activities such as getting dressed, cooking, or walking around the house take much longer and often require her help.
"Standing or walking for more than a few minutes is painful and exhausting. We came to this country because of the war hoping to finally feel safe.
"At first, we did. But now it feels like losing safety all over again and my studies to improve my career prospects are on hold
“I still hope that one day, we will both be able to feel safe again and that by getting the rehabilitation I need, I can overcome my injuries as much as possible to create a better life for us and give something back to the country that has been so kind and welcoming to us.”
Daniel Barr heroically jumped into the back of Paul Doyle's car and stopped the vehicle as scenes of carnage unfolded during Liverpool FC's Premier League victory parade
Daniel Barr heroically jumped into the back of Paul Doyle's car and stopped the vehicle as scenes of carnage unfolded during Liverpool FC's Premier League victory parade
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Meanwhile a former soldier who brought Paul Doyle’s car to a stop when he climbed into the back seat and moved the gearstick to park mode has said he does not think he did anything special.
Dan Barr was hailed as a “hero” by the Prime Minister and formally commended by the judge at Doyle’s sentencing hearing after Liverpool Crown Court heard he stopped the driver, who injured 134 people, from continuing to drive through the crowds on Water Street in Liverpool city centre after Liverpool FC’s victory parade on May 26.
The 41-year-old, who suffered cuts to his head following a “scuffle” with the driver, said he only did what most other people on the street were trying to do.
He said: “I don’t think it’s anything special. I know it sounds mad.
“It hasn’t sunk in. Maybe it never will, but I’ll do it again.”
The builder’s labourer, who served for eight years in the Royal Engineers including in Iraq, said he saw the “opportunity” to get in when Doyle’s Ford Galaxy stopped with the rear passenger door about five paces away from him.
He said: “My intention was to punch the window through.
“Although this was a split second, there was other people around the car, and they were desperately, desperately, and rightfully so, trying to get in."
Moment police drag Paul Doyle into police van
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Moment police drag Paul Doyle into police van
“So I ran up to that window with the full intention of punching it, whatever use that would do, because I assumed that all the doors were locked and that’s why nobody could get in and they were punching it.
“Just at the final moment I tried the door and it opened.”
Mr Barr, from Birkenhead, Wirral, crawled into the back seat and said once he was in the car Doyle accelerated away, causing the rear door to slam shut with the force.
His memory of his time in the car is “blurry”, but he said he remembered the contrast between the screaming, shouting and panic on the street and relative silence inside.
He said he got the impression it was a “family car” and remembered Doyle repeating words to the effect of “why won’t they move out my way?”.
He recalled looking for the car keys to stop Doyle and feeling that the car was “gliding through” the crowd “indiscriminately”.
He said: “Eventually, this could be like two seconds, I don’t know, I remember seeing the automatic gear stick so from the back seat I reached through, and I’ve pushed it as far as I could, as hard as could, into ‘P’ which has brought the car to the stop.”
Mr Barr remembers some sort of scuffle with Doyle, who kept trying to rev the car as he held the automatic gearstick in park mode.
He said: “He had no chance, he wasn’t going to move my arm.
“No way, he could try to chop it off or whatever.
“I remember that much.”
While holding the gear stick in place, he reached forward with his other hand and pressed Doyle’s seatbelt buckle.
“As soon as I pressed that he was gone,” he said.
“The crowd were trying to get him out, from what I remember, the windows were getting smashed, everybody was trying to get in, rightfully so.
“I pressed the seatbelt and off he disappeared.”
After leaving the car, Mr Barr carried on making his way up the road and later met his brother, who had also been in the city for the parade.
“I imagine I told him at a million miles an hour, something roughly that made sense, and then went for a pint,” he said.
After sentencing Doyle on Tuesday, Recorder of Liverpool Judge Andrew Menary KC told Mr Barr he would be given a High Sheriff’s Award for Bravery and a monetary award of £250 in appreciation of his “exceptional courage and presence of mind”.
Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector John Fitzgerald said: “There is no doubt in my mind that Doyle would have continued to drive and cause further injuries had Dan not acted with such bravery.”
A spokesman for Sir Keir Starmer said he acknowledged Mr Barr’s bravery.
He said: “I think the Prime Minister would echo the police’s remarks in relation to that individual.”