A man from the UK who caused harm to over 130 people by driving his car into a crowd of Liverpool football supporters during a Premier League celebration in May has been sentenced to 21.5 years in prison. Paul Doyle, who admitted to 31 criminal charges related to the incident, intentionally drove into the group of fans, injuring adults and children who were struck by his vehicle or dragged underneath it due to his anger, according to prosecutors.
Last month, the 54-year-old pleaded guilty to nine counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and 17 counts of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm on what would have been the trial’s first day. Prosecutor Paul Greaney described Doyle as a man consumed by rage when he drove into the joyous crowd, causing injuries to 134 individuals, including eight children.
During the Liverpool Crown Court proceedings, Greaney stated that around one million people had gathered to celebrate the team’s 20th English league title, observing an open-top bus parade with the Premier League trophy. Doyle’s actions, which took place over 77 seconds at nearly 6 p.m., involved shouting, swearing, and repeatedly hitting pedestrians with his car.
One of Doyle’s victims, Anna Bilonozhenko, who had moved from Ukraine to Britain in 2024, suffered a fractured knee after being struck by his vehicle. She expressed in a statement that the incident shattered her sense of safety in her new homeland. Several other individuals affected by the event shared the long-term impact it had on their lives, including challenges with work, family care, and attending public gatherings.
Despite Doyle’s past involvement with the Royal Marines and subsequent criminal record, he was described as a family-oriented individual who had made positive changes in his life. Daniel Barr, a former soldier, was commended for bravely stopping Doyle’s car by jumping into the back and putting it into park, preventing further harm and potentially saving lives. Specialist prosecutor James Allison hailed Barr as a hero, although Barr himself humbly rejected the title in an interview before Doyle’s sentencing.
