On December 16, 2025, the city of Liverpool witnessed a moment of reckoning as Paul Doyle, a 54-year-old IT networking engineer from Croxteth, was sentenced to 21 years and six months in prison for a violent rampage that transformed a joyous Liverpool FC Premier League title parade into a scene of chaos and trauma. The sentencing, delivered by Judge Andrew Menary KC, brought some closure—but not necessarily peace—to the more than 130 people Doyle injured on that fateful day in May 2025.
The incident unfolded on Water Street, in the heart of Liverpool, where thousands had gathered to celebrate their football club’s triumph. In a shocking turn, Doyle drove his two-tonne Ford Galaxy directly into the crowd, striking 134 pedestrians—ranging from a six-month-old baby to a 77-year-old woman. According to Empire of the Kop and the Liverpool Echo, 50 of those injured required hospital treatment, while countless others have continued to struggle with lasting psychological scars. What should have been a day of jubilation turned, in an instant, into a nightmare.
Judge Menary did not mince words during sentencing. "Your actions caused horror and devastation on a scale not previously encountered by this court," he declared, according to Empire of the Kop. "In reality, well over 100 people were struck and injured, many seriously. Parents and children, students, tourists, passers-by were all caught up by what many believed in the moment to be a mass panic terrorist attack. The truth, as captured on your own dashcam, is that you lost your temper in a rage, determined to force your way through the crowd regardless of the consequences. You admit that you intended to cause serious harm to achieve that end, even to children."
Doyle initially denied the charges but changed his plea to guilty on the second day of his trial in November 2025. He admitted to 31 charges, including causing grievous bodily harm with intent, dangerous driving, and affray, as reported by BBC. The judge noted that the length of Doyle’s sentence reflected the fact that he could have admitted his guilt much earlier, sparing victims additional anguish.
During the trial, the most damning evidence came from Doyle’s own dashcam footage. The recording, described as too graphic for public release, showed Doyle shouting "f***ing move" as he ploughed into the crowd. Pedestrians were thrown into the air or trapped under his vehicle, a scene that left many onlookers convinced they were witnessing a terror attack. The car was finally brought to a halt through the quick thinking of Daniel Barr, a former soldier, who bravely climbed into the back seat and shifted the automatic gear into park—an act that likely prevented further casualties.
In his defense, Doyle claimed he acted out of fear, alleging he saw someone in the crowd holding a knife. However, police investigations found no evidence—either from CCTV or witnesses—that anyone was armed. Further, it was confirmed that Doyle was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol and that his vehicle was mechanically sound, as detailed by Empire of the Kop.
The aftermath of the attack has left a deep mark on the victims and the city. Polly Herbert, a solicitor representing several of those injured, told BBC Breakfast that the sentencing was "bittersweet" for many. "The difficulty is that we still don't know why," she said. "I think the judge did try to go some lengths yesterday to explain that it was rage, but still the question is why? There's an element of control that the defendant still has over all of these victims, that answer hasn't been provided."
The psychological toll, Herbert emphasized, has been profound. "The psychological injuries and what's being described by our clients, these are life-changing, you cannot make sense about what happened so it's very hard for people to try and process that and take steps forward." The late guilty plea added to the distress, as victims had braced themselves for a protracted trial and the trauma of reliving the day through CCTV and dashcam footage. Yet, as Herbert noted, a sense of community has begun to emerge among the victims, offering some hope for recovery in the coming year.
Following his conviction, Doyle was remanded to HMP Wakefield—infamously known as "Monster Mansion"—a category A prison that houses some of the UK’s most dangerous offenders. According to the Liverpool Echo, Wakefield has recently experienced a surge in violence, with a 62% increase in incidents compared to the previous year. The prison’s grim reputation was underscored by two recent inmate deaths: convicted paedophile Ian Watkins, who died from a stab wound on October 11, and child killer Kyle Bevan, found dead in his cell on November 5. These incidents have heightened concerns about safety within the facility, particularly for older prisoners and those convicted of sexual offences.
Simon Csoka KC, Doyle’s defense counsel, highlighted the harsh conditions Doyle faced while on remand. "The defendant has been held in difficult conditions which have required vigilance on his part. The events at that prison have been well published. I will say no more about it. He was kept some distance from his wife and family." Csoka also noted Doyle’s struggle to comprehend his own actions, stating, "His actions weren't planned. His conduct has been difficult for him to understand and accept. It's taken him several months for him to recognise mentally what he did. He's appalled by his own conduct, the spiralling effect of his conduct was utterly unexpected for him and utterly unexpected for all those who know him well. There has been a period of denial, whether that can be categorised as subconscious denial is perhaps a moot point. There clearly has been an avoidance of reality. That's a well recognised phenomenon when an individual is involved in an event such as this."
While Doyle’s future may involve a transfer to a lower-security prison—since the judge determined he doesn’t pose a substantial risk of further harm—he will, for now, serve his sentence in an institution where violence is a daily reality. Wakefield’s infamous roster includes notorious murderers, sex offenders, and even former inmates like Charles Bronson and Harold Shipman.
For Liverpool, the events of May 2025 will not soon be forgotten. The city’s resilience, the bravery of bystanders like Daniel Barr, and the emerging solidarity among victims offer glimmers of hope in the aftermath of senseless violence. But as families gather and support one another through the long recovery ahead, the lingering question—why did this happen?—remains unanswered.
