UK - Car drives into pedestrians at Liverpool FC victory parade. Man detained, 26 May 2025

[Yellowbelly]

The BBC's take. I imagine the trial is going to be pushed back in order for both sides to prepare for the extra charges.

Paul Doyle: Liverpool parade accused faces 24 new charges

Paul Doyle became tearful as he was asked to confirm his identity at Liverpool Crown Court.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Alyce]

Simon Csoka KC, defending, applied for more time to consider the case.

He said Mr Doyle had only been served with the full list of charges this morning and had not had chance to properly assess the witness statements or 'marry' them with the timeline of his alleged driving.

Mr Csoka said his client was also waiting for a decision from prison authorities regarding his application for access to a laptop to help him view CCTV of events.

Judge Menary, the Recorder of Liverpool, agreed to adjourn the case until September 4 when Doyle, a former company director, will be expected to indicate a plea.

He said: 'I'm willing to give you more time, these are serious matters that are not uncomplicated. I shall adjourn this plea and preparation hearing for a couple of weeks.'

The maximum sentence Doyle could face is life imprisonment.

Liverpool FC victory parade attack accused hit with 24 new charges

Paul Doyle, 53, sobbed and wiped his eyes as he heard that he now faces trial in relation to injuries sustained by 29 supporters, including two infants, aged six months and seven months.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Parker Knoll]

Listed for tomorrow - will he plead to something I wonder or straight to trial ?

 

[Skigh]

Liverpool FC victory parade 'attack' man denies to 31 offences

Paul Doyle, 53, is facing charges including attempted grievous bodily harm (GBH) against two babies.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Appearing via videolink from prison, Doyle entered not guilty pleas to dangerous driving, affair, 18 attempts of attempting to cause GBH with intent, nine of causing GBH with intent and two of wounding with intent.

Wearing glasses and a grey t-shirt, he appeared to be looking at papers as charges were read to him, and shook his head points during the hearing.


After his pleas were filed, Doyle was remanded in custody once again. A trial date was set for November 24.

 

[Parker Knoll]

Wow.
JMO.

 

[Yellowbelly]

According to the BBC, the trial date has been put back a day to November 25th.

Liverpool parade accused Paul Doyle pleads not guilty

Paul Doyle, 53, denies 31 charges including causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Officer Dibble]

Liverpool FC victory parade 'attack' man denies to 31 offences

Paul Doyle, 53, is facing charges including attempted grievous bodily harm (GBH) against two babies.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Appearing via videolink from prison, Doyle entered not guilty pleas to dangerous driving, affair, 18 attempts of attempting to cause GBH with intent, nine of causing GBH with intent and two of wounding with intent.

Wearing glasses and a grey t-shirt, he appeared to be looking at papers as charges were read to him, and shook his head points during the hearing.


After his pleas were filed, Doyle was remanded in custody once again. A trial date was set for November 24.

on what basis does he plead not guilty?

 

[Smccat]

on what basis does he plead not guilty?

I can't wait to hear it.

 

[Parker Knoll]

The thing that’s troubled me with this is the drugs element at the start.
It was later dropped and I’m wondering if there had been a rogue reading from his prescription drugs ( if he take any of course ) which triggered the charge initially then it was dropped at a later date.
Possibly running a defence of having some medical episode during the parade ?
I’m clutching at straws here as it’s going to be a tough one !
Just my opinion obviously.

 

[Marantz4250b]

on what basis does he plead not guilty?

It'll be very interesting to hear what defence he's going to put forward, tbh. I suppose he might claim that he felt threatened and so it was self defence. I don't know how far that will take him given that he shouldn't actually have been there in the first place.

All very strange.

 

[Alyce]

Later in the hearing, he removed his glasses and put his head in his hands while appearing to be in tears.

A pre-trial review will take place on October 27.
Honorary Recorder of Liverpool Judge Andrew Menary KC said: Again, you will appear remotely for that hearing.

LFC parade suspect Paul Doyle in tears as he denies 31 charges

More than 100 pedestrians, aged between six months and 78, were injured when a car was driven into crowds of fans in Liverpool city centre

www.liverpoolecho.co.uk

 

[InstantCoffee]

PTSD possibly? Ex-military man.

I'm sure I read somewhere (but can't provide sources) that he was doing his wife a favour and had just run a friend of hers to the station.

 

[bbsaz]

The thing that’s troubled me with this is the drugs element at the start.
It was later dropped and I’m wondering if there had been a rogue reading from his prescription drugs ( if he take any of course ) which triggered the charge initially then it was dropped at a later date.
Possibly running a defence of having some medical episode during the parade ?
I’m clutching at straws here as it’s going to be a tough one !
Just my opinion obviously.

I assumed that he was behaving so wildly/erratically that they arrested him for drug driving, but then once rested he had none in his system, so wasn't charged.

 

[bbsaz]

PTSD possibly? Ex-military man.

I'm sure I read somewhere (but can't provide sources) that he was doing his wife a favour and had just run a friend of hers to the station.

I'm not sure PTSD will wash.

If it is only mild it won't wash. He might try to claim that crowds are a specific trigger, but unless he has evidence of that specific trigger, again, it won't wash. Also, he was in the military some 30 years ago. So again, unless he has recent evidence that his PTSD is still present (& linked to crowds) I can't see him having a leg to stand on.

And if it is currently that bad, then he shouldn't be driving, as that's an element of the dangerous driving rules ie to be fit and well.

On what we know so far (v little), I can only see him getting significant prison time.

 

[Alyce]

PTSD possibly? Ex-military man.

I'm sure I read somewhere (but can't provide sources) that he was doing his wife a favour and had just run a friend of hers to the station.

A close friend previously told the Daily Mail that Doyle was not a football fan and had been dropping off a friend in the city centre as a favour when the incident occurred

Liverpool FC victory parade 'attack' man denies to 31 offences

Paul Doyle, 53, is facing charges including attempted grievous bodily harm (GBH) against two babies.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Parker Knoll]

They would have to have done a drug swab at the scene or at the station, that’s what isn’t making sense.

 

[bbsaz]

They would have to have done a drug swab at the scene or at the station, that’s what isn’t making sense.

That's interesting, I didn't know that. When he was first arrested his friends were apparently particularly confused by that, as he had been teetotal for 20yrs

 

[bbsaz]

Just read that you can be arrested for drug driving for either failing a roadside swab test or 'field impairment test'. I assume it was the latter to not then be charged with it. Imagine he behaving very erratically at that point so it made the police assume he must be under influence of drugs, and then he failed the field impairment test

 

[Parker Knoll]

Sounds like that’s what’s been assumed on arrest then dropped.
Strange that his driving was erratic from the moment he got in his car that day.
All very odd.

 

[Marantz4250b]

Just read that you can be arrested for drug driving for either failing a roadside swab test or 'field impairment test'. I assume it was the latter to not then be charged with it. Imagine he behaving very erratically at that point so it made the police assume he must be under influence of drugs, and then he failed the field impairment test

We don't have field impairment tests in this country as far as I'm aware. I'm always amazed that the US uses them as they are really just pseudo-science which can be abused by officers. If someone is clearly impaired then they'll be asked to blow into a breathalyser and if they don't they'll get arrested.

Depending on his behavior at the time, it may just be the case that they arrested him on suspicion of being under the influence of something or other which they are perfectly entitled to do.