Guilty plea brings relief

THE mother of a young boy who was hurt when Paul Doyle drove his car into crowds at the Liverpool FC victory parade in May has said she was “shocked and relieved” when the 54-year-old changed his plea to guilty yesterday ahead of a planned trial.

- By LIAM THORP

Doyle, of Burghill Road in West Derby, was set to stand trial at Liverpool Crown Court before he suddenly pleaded guilty to all 31 charges, admitting ploughing his Ford Galaxy into crowds of pedestrians in Water Street shortly after 6pm on Monday May 26 during the Reds’ Premier League victory parade.

The Crown Prosecution Service said it was an “act of calculated violence” when the father-of-three and former Royal Marine drove into the crowd, injuring more than 130 people who had been out celebrating their team’s success.

One of those injured in the harrowing scenes was 12-year-old Liverpool fan Nikitas, who had travelled to watch the parade with his mum Maria on the day.

Maria previously told the ECHO that what had been a day of celebration turned to devastation as she heard the sound of a car beeping and people screaming before it careered into her and her son.