A former soldier who stopped a car during a terrifying attack at the Liverpool FC victory parade has been hailed as a hero in court, though he insists he 'didn't do anything special'.
A Moment of Bravery on Water Street
On May 26, 2025, as thousands of fans celebrated Liverpool FC's win on Water Street, Paul Doyle, 54, deliberately drove his Ford Galaxy into the packed crowd. The incident left at least 134 people injured, with some trapped under the vehicle's wheels.
Dan Barr, 41, a former Royal Engineers soldier from Birkenhead with eight years of service, saw the car stop momentarily. Seizing his chance, he ran towards it. "My intention was to punch the window through," Barr recalled. However, at the last moment, he tried the rear passenger door and found it unlocked.
Inside the Vehicle: A Fight for Control
Barr crawled into the back seat just as Doyle accelerated away, the door slamming shut. Inside, Barr remembered Doyle repeatedly saying, 'why won't they move out my way?' Acting quickly, Barr reached from the back seat, grabbed the automatic gear stick, and forced it into 'Park', bringing the car to a halt.
"He had no chance, he wasn't going to move my arm," Barr stated. "No way, he could try to chop it off or whatever." While holding the gearstick, Barr used his other hand to release Doyle's seatbelt buckle, allowing the enraged crowd to pull the driver from the car.
Justice Served and Lasting Impact
On December 16, 2025, Paul Doyle was jailed for 21 and a half years. Judge Andrew Menary KC told Doyle his actions showed 'calculated violence' and were not a moment of panic. The most critical evidence was Doyle's own dashcam footage, described by police as among the most graphic they had ever seen.
Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector John Fitzgerald said there was 'no doubt' Doyle would have caused further injuries without Barr's intervention. Despite suffering head cuts in a scuffle, the modest ex-soldier downplayed his role. "I don't think it's anything special. I know it sounds mad," he said. "It hasn't sunk in. Maybe it never will, but I'll do it again." After the ordeal, Barr simply met his brother and went for a pint.
