The city of Liverpool, still reeling from the chaos that marred its jubilant Premier League title celebrations, is now bracing for a high-profile trial. Paul Doyle, a 53-year-old local businessman, stands accused of ramming his Ford Galaxy into crowds of Liverpool FC supporters on Water Street during the team’s victory parade on May 26, 2025. The incident left more than 130 people injured, with victims ranging from infants to elderly fans, and has since dominated headlines across the UK.
On September 4, 2025, Doyle appeared via videolink from HMP Belmarsh before Liverpool Crown Court, where he pleaded not guilty to a staggering 31 charges. These include 18 counts of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent, nine counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, two counts of wounding with intent, one count of dangerous driving, and one count of affray, as reported by BBC and The Liverpool Echo. The allegations span 29 victims, whose ages range from just six months old to 77 years, underscoring the indiscriminate nature of the event.
The attack, which occurred just after 6pm on a Bank Holiday Monday, sent shockwaves through the city. According to talkSPORT, Water Street was packed with supporters celebrating Liverpool’s record-tying 20th league title, with an estimated one million people lining the parade route. The mood turned from festive to frantic in an instant as Doyle’s car entered the closed-off street, colliding with dozens of people. Merseyside Police later confirmed that, in total, 134 people sustained injuries in the chaos. Among the injured were children as young as six months and elderly fans, with 50 people requiring hospital treatment. Thankfully, all have since been discharged.
Witnesses described scenes of panic and confusion as the Ford Galaxy plowed into the crowd. Four people, including a child, had to be lifted from beneath the vehicle. A baby boy’s pram was also hit and knocked several meters down the street, but miraculously, the baby was unharmed. An on-scene paramedic was struck by the car but did not suffer serious injuries, according to BBC and talkSPORT. The incident was not treated as terrorism, Merseyside Police Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims clarified, stating, “There was no intelligence to suggest an incident of this nature would take place and, as we've previously stated, the incident is not being treated as terrorism.”
Police believe Doyle was able to bypass a roadblock by following an ambulance that was responding to a suspected heart attack victim, a detail confirmed by both BBC and talkSPORT. This breach, occurring during an event with extensive security measures—including road closures and an armed police presence—has prompted questions about crowd safety and event planning in Liverpool and beyond.
In court, Doyle appeared composed at times, but the emotional toll of the proceedings was evident. The Liverpool Echo described moments where Doyle shook his head as charges were read, at one point removing his glasses and placing his head in his hands, seemingly overcome with emotion. Legal wrangling also featured prominently during the hearing. Simon Csoka KC, Doyle’s defense counsel, criticized the prison system for delays in arranging access to digital evidence, saying, “The system just isn't working.” Csoka further described the process of securing a laptop for Doyle in custody as “impenetrable red tape” and “incomprehensible.”
The path to trial has been complex. Initially, Doyle faced seven charges, but after a hearing in August, prosecutors added another 24 counts, bringing the total to 31. These include specific allegations of grievous bodily harm and wounding with intent against children aged six months, seven months, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 17 years, as well as a host of adults. The case has attracted national attention, not only due to the scale of the incident but also because of the diversity of those affected. In a notable ruling, Judge Andrew Menary KC lifted reporting restrictions on the six-month-old complainant, Teddy Eveson, stating that the child’s name was already widely known in the aftermath of the incident. However, protections for other child victims remain in place.
The legal process is ongoing, with a pre-trial review scheduled for October 27, 2025. Judge Menary has ordered both prosecution and defense to serve key statements and evidence by mid-September. The trial itself, originally set for November 24, has been pushed back a day and is now due to begin on November 25. It is expected to last three to four weeks, with proceedings once again taking place at Liverpool Crown Court before the honorary recorder of Liverpool, Andrew Menary KC.
Throughout the plea hearing, Doyle maintained his innocence, repeatedly entering not guilty pleas to each charge as it was read. Notably, he denied attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent to named individuals, including James Weston, Ethan Gilland, Susan Passey, David Price, Christine Seeckts, Stefan Dettlaff, Hannah O’Neill, Sam Alexander, Robin Darke, and others. Each denial was accompanied by visible signs of distress, such as shaking his head or appearing tearful, as reported by The Liverpool Echo.
The case has reignited conversations in Liverpool about the risks associated with large public gatherings, even those intended to celebrate community triumphs. City officials and police have emphasized the importance of robust safety protocols, but the fact that a single vehicle could breach security and cause such widespread harm has left many residents unsettled.
For the victims and their families, the road to recovery—both physical and emotional—continues. While all those hospitalized have now been discharged, the scars of that day linger in the collective memory of Liverpool. As the city awaits the trial’s outcome, there is a palpable sense of hope that justice, in whatever form it takes, will bring some measure of closure to those affected.
With the trial set to commence in late November, all eyes will be on Liverpool Crown Court as the details of that fateful day are examined in painstaking detail. The outcome will not only determine the fate of Paul Doyle but may also shape how major public events are managed in the city for years to come.
