On May 26, 2025, what should have been a jubilant celebration in Liverpool’s city centre turned into a scene of chaos and terror. As tens of thousands gathered to mark Liverpool’s 2024/2025 English League title victory, a two-minute rampage by 54-year-old Paul Doyle left more than 130 people injured—some gravely, many scarred for life. The aftermath, as revealed in a harrowing court case, exposed not only the physical toll on victims ranging from infants to the elderly but also the deep psychological wounds that persist for many.
According to the Independent, the events unfolded with shocking speed and violence. Doyle, described by prosecutors as a “family man,” was behind the wheel of his 1.9-ton Ford Galaxy. Seized by anger, he abandoned a queue of traffic and steered his vehicle through a gap in traffic cones, accelerating directly into a dense crowd of Liverpool supporters. “You struck people head-on, knocked others onto the bonnet, drove over limbs, crushed prams, and forced those nearby to scatter in terror,” Judge Andrew Menary KC later summarized during sentencing. “Person after person after person.”
Dashcam footage, played repeatedly in Liverpool Crown Court on December 15 and 16, 2025, forced victims, journalists, and even the defendant himself to relive the horror. The footage showed Doyle shouting profanities—“get out of the way,” “fucking bastard,” and “get out of the fucking way”—as he drove, his anger boiling over. At one point, a witness described seeing the crowd’s mood shift instantly from joy to panic as bodies were thrown into the air. According to ESPN, the windshield shattered after a man landed on the roof, and a pram carrying a five-month-old baby was struck, drawing gasps in the courtroom. The youngest victim, six-month-old Teddy Eveson, was thrown about 15 feet from his pushchair, his parents later recounted to the media.
For many, the court proceedings were almost too much to bear. “What we are about to display on the screens is truly shocking,” prosecutor Paul Greaney KC warned before the dashcam video rolled. Some victims looked away, others wept openly, and even seasoned court reporters struggled to maintain composure. The graphic footage was deemed too violent and distressing for public release, but it was necessary for the court—and Judge Menary—to grasp the full extent of Doyle’s actions.
Within 140 seconds, Doyle had hit more than 100 people, according to prosecutors, though later victim statements put the total injured at over 134. The crowd, ranging in age from just six months to 77 years old, included children, parents, and even a woman who had fled war in Ukraine and a survivor of the 2017 Manchester Arena terrorist attack. The impact statements read aloud in court painted a picture of lasting trauma: nightmares, flashbacks, panic attacks, and a loss of confidence haunted many, even as their physical wounds healed.
One woman, speaking for herself and her husband, addressed Doyle directly in her statement: “Don’t sit in the dock and cry for yourself. Be brave and take accountability for what you did.” Her words, echoed by the pain of dozens of others, underscored the community’s demand for justice and closure.
In the immediate aftermath, Daniel Barr emerged as an unlikely hero. As the carnage unfolded, Barr bravely jumped into the back of Doyle’s car and managed to put the gear stick in park, bringing the vehicle to a halt after 16 seconds of terror. Judge Menary singled out Barr’s “outstandingly brave” actions, asking in court, “Is Mr Barr here?” The 41-year-old stood, receiving a warm embrace from those around him—a rare moment of relief amid the trial’s grim proceedings.
Prosecutors argued that Doyle’s actions were deliberate, driven by rage and impatience. “The strong conclusion from the dashcam footage is that the defendant considers himself to be the most important person on Dale Street and considers that everyone else needs to get out of the way so that he can get to where he wants to go,” Paul Greaney KC told the court, as reported by ESPN. Though Doyle claimed to have been afraid, prosecutors rejected this, pointing out that he had passed several police officers and could have sought help at any time. Instead, he chose to drive directly into the crowd, inflicting serious injuries, even to children, to force his way through.
After his arrest at the scene on Water Street, Doyle reportedly told officers, “I just destroyed my family’s life.” During the sentencing, he wept as the footage played, bowing his head and closing his eyes—a display of remorse that many victims found difficult to accept. Doyle ultimately pleaded guilty to 31 offences, including dangerous driving, affray, 17 counts of attempted grievous bodily harm with intent, nine counts of grievous bodily harm with intent, and three counts of wounding with intent. The charges related to 29 named victims, but the true number of those affected was far higher.
The tragedy’s psychological impact was profound. More than 70 victims submitted written statements describing their ongoing struggles. For some, the parade had been a long-awaited moment of happiness after years of hardship, only to become a source of trauma. The mother of one-year-old Teddy Eveson, who miraculously survived, told the Independent after sentencing, “Justice for the victims.”
As the dust settled, the city of Liverpool was left to reflect on a day that began in celebration and ended in devastation. The deserted streets the morning after, littered with debris and reminders of the violence, stood in stark contrast to the hope and unity that the parade was meant to symbolize. For many, Doyle’s sentencing brought a measure of closure, but the memories—and the scars—will endure.
In the end, the Liverpool parade tragedy stands as a sobering reminder of how quickly joy can turn to horror, and how communities, even in the face of unimaginable trauma, can find moments of courage and solidarity.
