21 Years Behind Bars for Driver Who Ploughed into Crowd on Water Street
Police can confirm Paul Doyle has today, Tuesday 16 December, been jailed for a total of 21-and-a-half years.
Doyle, 54, formerly of Burghill Road, West Derby, was due to stand trial in relation to the incident on Water Street in Liverpool on Monday 26 May this year in which more than 100 adults and children were injured after his Ford Galaxy drove into a crowd of pedestrians.
He pleaded guilty last month to 17 counts of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent, nine counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, three counts of wounding and one count each of dangerous driving and affray.
Today at Liverpool Crown Court he was jailed for 21-and-a-half years.
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Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector John Fitzgerald said: “Paul Doyle is today starting a lengthy prison sentence as a consequence of his actions on 26 May this year.
“It is difficult to comprehend the devastating impact the events of that day have had, and continue to have, on so many people.
“On what should have been a day of celebration for the city Doyle chose to act in an aggressive and dangerous manner with no regard for the safety and wellbeing of other people.
“No prison sentence will be able to undo his actions on that day or heal those who continue to suffer physically and psychologically as a result of what they endured and witnessed on the streets of the city.
“Our thoughts remain with everyone affected and I hope that now the judicial process has finished those people will be able to start moving on and rebuild their lives.
“I hope that the prison sentence will also give Doyle the chance to reflect on his actions and they impact they had.
“This has been one of the most extensive investigations in the history of Merseyside Police and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the investigation team for their hard work and diligence.
“Over the past seven months, we have supported 134 victims, spoken to more than 1,500 witnesses viewed nearly 280 pieces of footage and gathered over 700 statements.
“I would like to thank those who bravely came to the assistance of those injured and impacted on the day including Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, the North West and St John Ambulance Services, HM Coastguard, and our policing colleagues.
“Finally I would like to thank our colleagues in the Crown Prosecution Service who worked alongside us to build a case so strong that Doyle had no choice but to plead guilty to the charges he faced.”