A pedestrian hailed as a "hero" by prosecutors climbed into the moving vehicle of a man who used his car as a "weapon" during Liverpool's Premier League victory parade, a court has heard.
The Attack and the Heroic Intervention
Paul Doyle, 54, from Croxteth, Liverpool, is due to be sentenced on Tuesday after pleading guilty to 31 offences. These relate to seriously injuring people when he drove into crowds celebrating on Water Street on 26 May. During a sentencing hearing at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday, prosecutor Paul Greaney KC described the actions of ex-soldier Daniel Barr.
Mr Greaney said Mr Barr was walking up Water Street when he noticed the crowd's mood shift from "joyous to desperate" as Doyle's Ford Galaxy approached. The vehicle stopped next to Mr Barr "all of a sudden". "Daniel Barr instinctively pulled open the rear passenger-side door and climbed in. He did so with the intention of stopping the driver," the prosecutor told the court.
Mr Barr then leaned forward, moved the gear into "park", and held it as hard as he could. The court heard the vehicle did not stop immediately but was ultimately brought to a halt by his brave actions.
Court Hears Shocking Details of the Rampage
The hearing was shown dashcam footage from Doyle's car, which Mr Greaney warned was "truly shocking". Audible gasps were reported in the courtroom as the video played. Doyle could be heard repeatedly shouting "move out the f****** way" at pedestrians and using his horn consistently as people tried to jump out of the path of the car.
By the end of the footage, people began attempting to run up to the stationary vehicle, with one man shouting "get the f*** out of the car". Police officers then forced Doyle into a van "in the midst of a hostile crowd", with the prosecutor praising their "brave and effective" behaviour.
Once securely in the police van, body-worn camera footage captured Doyle saying, "I've just ruined my family's life." The court heard he was "in a rage" and his "anger had completely taken hold of him". Prosecutors stated investigations ruled out ideological motives, confirming Doyle was sober and his vehicle was mechanically sound. "The truth is a simple one - Paul Doyle just lost his temper in his desire to get to where he wanted to get to," Mr Greaney said.
Severe Impact on Victims
The offences relate to 29 victims aged between six months and 77 years old. Doyle admitted dangerous driving, affray, 17 charges of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent, nine counts of causing GBH with intent, and three counts of wounding with intent.
The court heard detailed accounts of the injuries sustained. A 66-year-old woman spent four nights in hospital with six broken ribs and fractures to her hand and wrist. A 77-year-old woman was hospitalised for 27 days, suffering a fractured forearm, collar bone, ribs, pelvis, a broken nose, and extensive abrasions and bruising.
The youngest victim was six-month-old Teddy Eveson, whom Doyle admitted attempting to cause grievous bodily harm to. The baby's parents told media he was thrown about 15ft down the road in his pram. Five other child victims cannot be named for legal reasons.
Doyle, described in court as a "family man", wept as the footage of the rampage was shown. He was arrested at the scene on Water Street just after 6pm on the day of the attack and charged later that week.
