Sarah Hooper
Published November 26, 2025 11:30am
Updated November 26, 2025 12:20pm
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Paul Doyle is accused of driving his car through football fans gathered to celebrate (Picture: SWNS)
The man accused of the Liverpool victory parade crash has pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and affray.
Paul Doyle, 54, is accused of driving his Ford Galaxy into crowds of footy fans who were gathered in the city centre on May 26.
Today, he changed his plea to guilty, admitting nine counts of grievous bodily harm with intent. He said he isn’t guilty of two counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, one of wounding with intent and one of attempting GBH with intent.
He’s been remanded in custody ahead of his sentencing, which begins on December 15. The Recorder of Liverpool, Andrew Menary KC, told Doyle it was ‘inevitable’ he would be facing a custodial sentence ‘of some length’ following his change of pleas.
He had previously denied the offences, all relating to the incident on May 26, which happened as crowds were gathered in the city to celebrate the football team’s Premier League title win.
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Doyle, a former Royal Marine commando, appeared wiped away tears as the judge told him he could sit down after he entered the plea.
Yesterday, he was charged with 31 offences, including assault against one six-month-old and one seven-month-old.
In total, he was charged with 17 counts of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent, nine counts of causing GBH with intent, three counts of wounding with intent, affray and dangerous driving.
His mugshot was released earlier today (Picture: Merseyside Police)
Dozens were injured in the crash as fans celebrated (Picture: AFP)
Merseyside Police detective chief inspector John Fitzgerald said: ‘It is hard to forget the shocking scenes from that day. What should have been a day of celebration for the city turned into a distressing and frightening experience which we know continues to have a physical and psychological impact on many people.
‘Thousands of people had gathered in the city to watch the Liverpool FC parade and it is only by sheer luck that nobody was killed because of Doyle’s reckless actions.
‘In just seven minutes his dangerous driving meant that his car collided with more than 100 people, including children, in some cases trapping people underneath and causing serious injuries.’
Sarah Hammond, chief crown prosecutor for CPS Mersey-Cheshire, said: “Paul Doyle has been held responsible for his deliberate actions that endangered lives and brought chaos upon a community”.
She added: ‘By entering guilty pleas, Doyle has finally accepted that he intentionally drove into crowds of innocent people during Liverpool FC’s victory parade.
‘Dashcam footage from Doyle’s vehicle shows that as he approached Dale Street and Water Street, he became increasingly agitated by the crowds. Rather than wait for them to pass, he deliberately drove at them, forcing his way through.
‘Driving a vehicle into a crowd is an act of calculated violence. This was not a momentary lapse by Paul Doyle — it was a choice he made that day and it turned celebration into mayhem.’
Doyle wept as he changed his plea in court today (Picture: PA)
Liverpool were celebrating winning their second Premier League title when the car drove into crowds.
More than 130 people reported injuries after Doyle drove his Ford Galaxy Titanium into crowds on Water Street just after 6 pm on May 26.
The team bus had travelled down The Strand, which passes the end of Water Street, before the incident and the parade was coming to a close, with supporters heading home.
In May, Merseyside Police said they believed the driver had followed an ambulance onto Water Street after a road block was temporarily lifted for crews to attend to a person having a heart attack.
He was arrested at the scene and charged later that week.
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The charges relate to 29 victims, aged between six months and 77 years old.
The youngest alleged victim was Teddy Eveson, whose parents later told the media he was thrown about 15 feet down the road in his pram when the crash happened.
Doyle, of Croxteth, Liverpool, admitted attempting to cause grievous bodily harm to the baby.
Five other children, who Doyle is alleged to have either injured or attempted to injure, cannot be named for legal reasons.
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