A former Royal Marine commando used his car ‘as a weapon’ to deliberately mow down and injure fans at Liverpool FC’s victory parade, a court heard today.
Paul Doyle, 53, appeared before Liverpool Magistrates Court this morning charged with seven offences, including dangerous driving and grievous bodily harm (GBH).
He appeared tired and close to tears as he was brought into the glass-panelled dock for the hearing.
Doyle, who was dressed in a black suit, white shirt and grey tie, spoke only to confirm his name, address and date of birth and listened to proceedings with his head bowed.
The defendant faces one count of dangerous driving alongside two counts each of causing GBH with intent, wounding with intent to cause GBH and attempting to cause GBH with intent.
The court heard the charges relate to six alleged victims, including four adults – two men and two women – and two children aged 17 and 11. The maximum sentence he could face is life imprisonment. He did not indicate a plea.
Philip Astbury, prosecuting, said Doyle had ‘deliberately’ used his vehicle as a ‘weapon’ when he ploughed into supporters making their way home up Water Street, just moments after the team had paraded the Premier League trophy on an open-top bus, around 6pm on Monday.
He said: ‘This defendant drove deliberately at people amongst that crowd as they tried to leave the area.
‘Six charges of assault reflect those most seriously injured. The first count of dangerous driving reflects the manner of driving before and up until he used his vehicle deliberately as a weapon to injure those individuals.’
The defendant shook his head as he listened to the barrister outline the allegations against him.
Mr Astbury indicated the Crown would oppose any application for bail.
Judge Healey agreed to impose reporting restrictions banning the naming of all six alleged victims.
He said: ‘I believe it is in the interests of justice and it is a necessary and proportionate step at this time, having regard to the nature of the allegations and the express wishes of the victims.’
The judge said the investigation was in the ‘very early stages,’ adding: ‘There is a real prospect of further charges and extensive inquiries need to be concluded.
‘I am satisfied this is a truly exceptional case. It shocked and outraged the people of Liverpool and beyond.’
All seven charges were put to Doyle, who gave no reaction, before Judge Healey remanded him into custody to appear before the Recorder of Liverpool, Judge Andrew Menary, at Liverpool Crown Court this afternoon.
At his first crown court appearance, Doyle stood in the glass-panelled dock and confirmed his name and date of birth.
Philip Astbury, prosecuting, said: ‘This is very much an ongoing investigation and there are many witnesses still to be interviewed.
‘A great deal of CCTV still to be analysed, among other things, and of course medical evidence to be secured, so those are the charges as they stand.
‘I’ve made it clear to the defence that things may change but that is, as my Lord appreciates, the most accurate decision that could be made at this stage.’
Judge Menary fixed a trial date for November 24, which he said was estimated to take three to four weeks.
The court heard Doyle will be expected to enter a plea on August 14.
But his barrister Damian Nolan told the hearing that moving the trial to a different city was an ‘active consideration’.
He said he wanted to flag that because there had been a ‘cyber attack on legal aid agency’ and applications couldn’t currently be lodged.
Judge Menary agreed to continue the reporting restrictions banning the identification of the six people injured and named on the charges until the matter could be reconsidered at the same court on Tuesday afternoon.
Doyle nodded as the judge told him he was being remanded into custody for his own protection.
‘It is appropriate to remand you into custody for your own welfare, given the nature of the public interest in this case and the legitimate concerns others have about your welfare in the community,’ the judge said.
Yesterday, Merseyside Police Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims told a news conference last night that seven people remain in hospital after the incident.
A total of 50 were taken to hospital, the youngest aged nine and the eldest aged 78.
Detectives are reviewing a ‘huge volume’ of CCTV and mobile phone footage from the day which was meant to be a celebration of Liverpool’s 20th league title.
Sarah Hammond, Chief crown prosecutor for the CPS Mersey-Cheshire, added: ‘This includes multiple pieces of video footage and numerous witness statements. It is important to ensure that every victim gets the justice they deserve.
‘The charges will be kept under review as the investigation progresses.’
Ms Sims told last night’s press conference: ‘I fully understand how this incident has left us all shocked and saddened, and I know many will continue to have concerns and questions.
‘Our detectives are working tirelessly, with diligence and professionalism, to seek the answer to all of those questions. When we are able to, we will provide further information.’
A close friend of Doyle’s told the Mail he was not a football fan and had simply been dropping off a friend in the city centre as a favour when the incident occurred.
‘I believe he was doing someone a favour and dropping his wife’s friend and her daughter off for an appointment,’ the friend said. ‘He is a nice lad. He has a heart of gold.’
It is understood Doyle, a former company director, passed out of the Royal Marine Commando Training Centre, also known as CTCRM, in 1991 and served with 43 Commando, the unit based in Arbroath, Scotland, that helps secure the UK’s nuclear deterrent.
After leaving the Forces, the keen runner went on to read psychology and maths at a Russell Group university.
He has since held various management positions as a network security consultant, including one for several years at an NHS Trust, while company records show that he previously ran a number of businesses. He now works in cyber security.
According to social media, the sports enthusiast attended a local university and his wife of 20 years has also regularly posted happy pictures of the family enjoying holidays abroad, including to Disneyland.
Another close friend of the middle-class Doyles said he and his wife, who have been married for 20 years, were churchgoers and involved with a local Scout group.
‘I just can’t believe it,’ she said. ‘They are like part of the family, we have known them for years, their boys grew up with our children, I’m stunned, I really am.
‘It’s so out of character. Paul doesn’t drink or smoke or anything like that. He is such a family man, really hard working. They are such a gorgeous family.’
Two police vans were parked outside the family home yesterday. There was no answer at the well-kept property in a quiet cul-de-sac in the suburb of West Derby, north-east of the city centre.
Liverpool had paraded their Premier League trophy along the waterfront, in front of the city’s famous Royal Liver building, just moments before the incident and thousands of supporters were making their way home or to bars to continue the celebration.
A flat-bed truck, which was being used to cordon off the street, had been moved by private contractors to let the emergency services through as it raced to a heart attack victim, police revealed.
Distressing footage posted online shows supporters banging on the car’s windows before it accelerated and hit fans at speed, causing several to be catapulted off the bonnet and leaving four trapped under its wheels.
Detectives quickly ruled out terrorism as a motive and went public with some details of the suspect to head of misinformation swirling on social media within hours of the incident.
Doyle was initially held on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs. But last night the Crown Prosecution Service confirmed he had not been charged with any drug-related offences.