Paul Doyle charged with seven offences for driving into Liverpool crowds

Paul Doyle injured 79 people – the youngest aged nine – when his car allegedly rammed into football fans on Monday.

Paul Doyle, 53, has been charged with malicious wounding with intent and numerous other offences.

A former Royal Marine will face court on Friday (Saturday AEST) charged with seven offences following the carnage involving crowds of people celebrating the Liverpool football club premier league victory earlier this week.

Paul Doyle, 53, a father of three and a keen triathlete, has been named by police as the driver of the Ford Galaxy vehicle which ploughed into the crowd on Water Street in the centre of Liverpool on Monday.

A total of 79 people were injured with 50 people between the ages of nine and 78 taken to hospital. Seven victims remain in hospital in a stable condition.

The Crown Prosecution Service said Mr Doyle, from West Derby in Liverpool, had been charged with two counts of wounding with intent, two counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, two counts of attempted grievous bodily harm with intent and one count of dangerous driving.

He has been remanded in custody and will appear at Liverpool magistrates’ court on Friday morning.

Mr Doyle served in the Royal Marines between 1990 and 1994 and then ran several businesses including a mail order firm and one that supplied sports equipment.

Paul Doyle has been charged over the Liverpool parade crash. Picture: Facebook

Neighbours of Mr Doyle have described him as a popular man who assisted people in the street and kept his house immaculate, saying his three teenage children were polite and well behaved. His wife is a schoolteacher.

Neighbours had mistakenly thought there had been a robbery when police arrived in the street on Monday night after the car incident.

On Wednesday afternoon, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer went to Liverpool and spoke to police.

“The scenes on Monday were just awful – to see how incredible joy at an amazing achievement turned to horror in a moment,” Sir Keir said.

Chief Crown Prosecutor Sarah Hammond said the investigation was still at an early stage and that the charges will be kept under review as the investigation progresses.

Police believe Mr Doyle dodged a roadblock by tailing an ambulance responding to a report of a person in cardiac arrest. Picture: AP

“Prosecutors and police are continuing to work at pace to review a huge volume of evidence,” she said.

“This includes multiple pieces of video footage and numerous witness statements. It is important to ensure that every victim gets the justice they deserve.”

The incident happened at 6pm on a bank holiday when the city was crammed with football fans. The car may have followed an ambulance into Dale Street, which turns into Water Street, police believe.

At the beginning of the incident, the vehicle was surrounded by fans and Mr Doyle reversed, striking a member of the public and prompting some fans to smash the rear window. Another pedestrian opened the driver’s door before Mr Doyle accelerated sharply forward and then rammed the crowd with a man bouncing off the bonnet. Others were trapped underneath the vehicle as it moved across the street.