Liverpool parade attacker Paul Doyle begins 21-year sentence, experts warn of tough time behind bars

Paul Doyle, a 54-year-old former Royal Marine, began a 21-year prison term after driving his car into crowds of Liverpool FC fans celebrating the club’s title win in May, injuring more than 100 people. The sentencing at Liverpool Crown Court concluded two days of proceedings, during which Doyle admitted driving into crowds at the city’s waterfront celebrations but claimed he panicked and acted out of fear for his own life.

Dashcam footage from inside Doyle’s Ford Galaxy, along with CCTV, showed the vehicle deliberately used as a weapon in a fit of rage as it weaved into crowds returning from the parade route. Witnesses described a chaotic scene as fans and families tried to get out of the way. Doyle could be heard shouting commands and expletives as the car advanced toward rows of people and pursued those attempting to flee. In court, Doyle wept as the footage was shown, and the moment he was handed the sentence closed two days of testimony.

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Criminologists and psychologists consulted by media outlets described Doyle as likely to begin his sentence in a high-security setting before potential downgrades. Alex Izsatt, a criminologist who spoke to a national outlet, said Doyle may start behind high fences in Category A accommodation and be moved later based on behaviour and risk assessments. “It’s likely he will face a tough time from other inmates given the range of victims and the calculated nature of the attack,” Izsatt said.

The case drew testimony from dozens of witnesses about the day’s injuries and the chilling impact on bystanders. Mike Blair, 30, and his mother Debbie, 55, recalled how they believed they were the victims of a terror attack as Doyle accelerated into the crowd on Water Street near the Liver Building. Debbie Blair said her son pushed her out of the way and helped others after the vehicle struck the crowd. “There were just bodies everywhere. It was crazy, absolutely crazy,” Mike Blair said, describing how they tried to pull people free and render aid.

Debbie Blair added that dashcam footage from Doyle’s car appeared to prove the act was deliberate. “When you see what mood he was in and that he’s obviously done it deliberately, that’s going to really blow a lot of people’s minds,” she said. For the Blairs, the day’s trauma extended beyond the immediate moment; Debbie Blair described a lasting fear for crowded spaces and the ongoing recovery from injuries they sustained.

The court also heard from other victims who described lasting effects. A 12-year-old boy who was at the parade with his mother said the day began as the best of times but quickly turned frightening. “I found myself on the floor having been hit by a car I did not see coming,” the boy testified, describing how he was separated from his mother and left feeling scared and confused. He said he continues to suffer anxiety around traffic and crowded places, with memories replaying the incident.

Another witness, a Ukrainian woman, described arriving in Liverpool with her daughter after fleeing war, hoping celebrations would lift spirits. Instead, she said, she left with a broken knee requiring metal plates and screws, and with a sense that personal safety was no longer guaranteed. In total, more than 100 people were injured, including a number who required long hospital stays or ongoing rehabilitation.

The trial also featured accounts of individuals who were struck by the car as it moved through the crowd. Sheree Aldridge, 37, lost sight of her six-month-old son, Teddy, who was in a pram that was flipped by the impact; she later learned he was unharmed but noted she spent 18 days in hospital and had to relearn basic movement during recovery. “All we wanted was to celebrate,” she said, adding that the experience left her feeling “disgusting, disfigured and broken.”

John Davey, 31, described spinal fractures in three places that left him in near-constant pain and unable to work. “I cannot sleep — I lie awake for hours, haunted by memories of that day,” he said. Others, including Alan Spain, 26, said matches now feel different because images of the crowd at the parade remind them of the attack and of the danger they faced that day.

The attack occurred as Liverpool celebrated a Premier League title, an event that typically embodies communal pride and city-wide festivity. Instead, the day’s celebrations were overshadowed by fear and disruption, leaving many residents and fans with lasting physical and psychological scars. Local authorities and event organizers have since emphasized crime-prevention measures and crowd-safety protocols to prevent a recurrence during future celebrations.

In court, Doyle showed little emotion at the moment of sentencing, even as victims and family members spoke of the day’s impact. He had previously been treated as a Category A inmate, reflecting the perceived danger he posed to the public, but experts anticipate that corrections officials will reassess his status as he serves his time. The Crown Court judge did not rule on any potential appeals during the sentencing, noting that post-conviction developments would be handled through standard channels.

The case has drawn ongoing attention to the response of the criminal-justice system to incidents where vehicles are used as weapons against crowds. It also highlighted a broad range of effects—from physical injuries to long-term psychological trauma—that can follow such attacks. As Doyle begins serving his sentence, victims, families, and witnesses continue to seek support and accountability, while the city of Liverpool processes the event’s lasting impact on its sporting culture and social fabric.