Former Royal Marine Paul Doyle charged over Liverpool FC victory parade ‘attack’ pleads not guilty to 31 offences

A former Royal Marine alleged to have driven into a crowd of Liverpool fans during a Premier League victory parade has pleaded not guilty to 31 charges.

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

He is accused of ploughing his Ford Galaxy into a crowd of Reds fans in Water Street on May 26 during the parade, which packed out city centre streets.

Seven victims are alleged to be children aged between six months and 17 years old. 

The youngest victim is said to be Teddy Eveson, a six-month-old thought to have been in a pram, whom the judge allowed to be identified because his parents had previously named him in the media.

Seven other children, who Doyle is alleged to have either injured or attempted to injure, cannot be named for legal reasons. The oldest victim is alleged to be a 77-year-old woman.

Doyle, of West Derby in Liverpool, denied all 31 charges during a hearing at Liverpool Crown Court today.

Appearing via videolink from prison, Doyle entered not guilty pleas to dangerous driving, affray, 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.

An artist’s sketch of Paul Doyle today at his court appearance

Prosecutors have accused Doyle of driving a Ford Galaxy through a crowd of people on Water Street on May 26 

He was also seen to remove his spectacles to wipe tears from his eyes as preparations for the trial were discussed. 

Merseyside Police previously said 134 people were injured when Doyle allegedly drove his Ford Galaxy Titanium into crowds on Water Street in the city centre just after 6pm on May 26.

Doyle was originally charged with seven offences but 24 new counts were added to the indictment at a hearing last month.

After his pleas were filed, Doyle was remanded in custody once again. A trial date was set for November 25, with the proceedings expected to last three to four weeks. 

Honorary Recorder of Liverpool Judge Andrew Menary KC said a pre-trial hearing would be held on October 27. 

At the August 14 hearing, he wept as he was told he faced a host of additional charges. He faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

At an earlier hearing, Philip Astbury, prosecuting, said Doyle had ‘deliberately’ ploughed into crowds who were making their way home up Water Street.

The incident happened moments after supporters had watched the Liverpool football team parade the Premier League trophy in front of the Royal Liver Building, along the city’s waterfront, around 6pm.

He said: ‘This defendant drove deliberately at people amongst that crowd as they tried to leave the area. 

‘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.’

Doyle, of West Derby, is alleged to have followed an ambulance responding to a suspected heart attack victim through a roadblock before driving into fans.

Shocking mobile phone footage showed supporters banging on the windows and doors of the Ford Galaxy before it smashed into supporters, catapulting several over the bonnet and trapping others under its wheels.

Distressing footage captured the moment that the people carrier struck fans who had gathered for the parade 

The driver was swiftly detained by police after the car eventually came to a halt as the crowd moved in

Doyle – seen here in a court sketch from May this year – appeared via videolink from prison, where he is being held on remand

Emergency services at the scene of the incident on Water Street. More than 130 people were injured, police later said

Detectives quickly ruled out terrorism as a motive and went public with some details of the suspect to head off misinformation swirling on social media within hours of the incident.

It is understood Doyle, a keen runner, passed out of the Royal Marine Commando Training Centre, also known as CTCRM, in 1991.

He is said to have served with 43 Commando, the unit based in Arbroath, Scotland, that help secure the UK’s nuclear deterrent.

After leaving the forces, he went on to read psychology and maths at a Russell Group university before moving into cyber security roles.

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.