Reuters
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A British man who plowed his car into a crowd of Liverpool soccer fans during May’s Premier League victory parade, injuring more than 130 people, was sentenced to 21-and-a-half years in prison on Tuesday after admitting 31 criminal charges in the incident.
Prosecutors say Paul Doyle drove his car into a crowd of fans, hitting adults and children and being thrown off and dragged under cars simply because he lost his temper.
The 54-year-old pleaded guilty last month on what was supposed to be the first day of his trial to charges including nine counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and 17 charges of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm.
Prosecutor Paul Greaney said on Monday that Mr Doyle was an “enraged man whose anger was in full control” who deliberately drove his car into cheering fans, injuring 134 people, including eight children.
“Not only did he cause extensive injuries, but he also caused fear in participants who thought it was going to be a fun day,” Mr Greaney said.
Defense barrister Simon Szoka told the court: “The defendant is appalled, remorseful and ashamed by his actions and expresses his deepest regrets to all those who have been hurt and suffered.”
Doyle sat in the dock at Liverpool Crown Court as Judge Andrew Menary said:
“Plunging a vehicle into a crowd of pedestrians with such persistent disregard for human life defies normal understanding.”
Mr Greaney told the court on Monday that around one million people had gathered to celebrate Liverpool’s 20th English league title and watched a parade of open-top buses featuring the team and staff carrying the Premier League trophy.
Mr Doyle drove to the city center to pick up friends who had previously taken part in the parade, and in a 77-second period near 6pm, he plowed into the crowd, repeatedly hitting pedestrians while shouting, swearing and honking his horn.
One of Mr Doyle’s victims, Anna Bironozhenko, left Ukraine for the UK in 2024 after suffering a broken knee that required surgery after being hit by a Ford Galaxy.
“We came to this country hoping to finally feel safe because of the war in our homeland,” she said in a statement read on her behalf. “At first I did, but now that feeling has been taken away…I feel like I’m unsafe again.”
Others involved in the incident spoke of the long-term impact on themselves and their loved ones, saying they were unable to work, care for their families, be in crowded places or see Liverpool.
