Former Royal Marine, 53, appears in court charged over Liverpool parade crash that left 79 football fans injured

A former Royal Marine commando accused of ploughing into football fans at Liverpool FC’s Premier League title parade has appeared in court.

Paul Doyle, 53, was arrested and subsequently charged after a Ford Galaxy tailgated an ambulance through a roadblock before ramming through the crowd in the city centre on May 26.

The ‘horrific’ carnage on Water Street, which was packed with jubilant fans as the people carrier sped through the crowd at around 6pm on Bank Holiday Monday, left 79 injured, including a nine-year-old who was among several children hurt. 

Doyle, from West Derby on Merseyside, arrived at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court in a prison van today charged with seven offences relating to six people, including two children.

He faces one count of dangerous driving alongside two counts each of causing  grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent, wounding with intent to cause GBH and attempting to cause GBH with intent.

Doyle, who is married with three teenage children, was initially held on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs. 

But the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) confirmed he had not been charged with any drug-related offences after he was quizzed for almost 72 hours.

Doyle, dressed in a black suit, with a grey tie and white shirt, looked at the ground and appeared close to tears when he was brought into the courtroom today. 

He entered the glass-fronted dock at court and spoke only to confirm his name, address and date of birth.

Philip Astbury, prosecuting, applied for reporting restrictions to ban the naming of the six people, including two children, in the charges. 

The hearing was adjourned after seven minutes for district judge Paul Healey to consider the application, with the defendant taken from the dock and back to the cells.

No charges were put to Doyle, with the hearing expected to resume shortly before a further hearing later today at Liverpool Crown Court.

Merseyside Police Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims told a news conference last night that seven people remain in hospital after the incident. A total of 50 were taken to hospital, the youngest aged nine and the eldest aged 78.

Detectives are reviewing a ‘huge volume’ of CCTV and mobile phone footage from the day which was meant to be a celebration of Liverpool’s 20th league title. 

Sarah Hammond, Chief crown prosecutor for the CPS Mersey-Cheshire, added: ‘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 charges will be kept under review as the investigation progresses.’

Ms Sims told last night’s press conference: ‘I fully understand how this incident has left us all shocked and saddened, and I know many will continue to have concerns and questions.

‘Our detectives are working tirelessly, with diligence and professionalism, to seek the answer to all of those questions. When we are able to, we will provide further information.’

Yesterday a close friend of Doyle’s told the Mail he was not a football fan and had simply been dropping off a friend in the city centre as a favour when the incident occurred.

‘I believe he was doing someone a favour and dropping his wife’s friend and her daughter off for an appointment,’ the friend said. ‘He is a nice lad. He has a heart of gold.’

It is understood Doyle, a former company director, passed out of the Royal Marine Commando Training Centre, also known as CTCRM, in 1991 and served with 43 Commando, the unit based in Arbroath, Scotland, that helps secure the UK’s nuclear deterrent.

After leaving the Forces, the keen runner went on to read psychology and maths at a Russell Group university.

He has since held various management positions as a network security consultant, including one for several years at an NHS Trust, while company records show that he previously ran a number of businesses. He now works in cyber security.

According to social media, the sports enthusiast attended a local university and his wife of 20 years has also regularly posted happy pictures of the family enjoying holidays abroad, including to Disneyland.

Another close friend of the middle-class Doyles said he and his wife, who have been married for 20 years, were churchgoers and involved with a local Scout group. 

‘I just can’t believe it,’ she said. ‘They are like part of the family, we have known them for years, their boys grew up with our children, I’m stunned, I really am.

‘It’s so out of character. Paul doesn’t drink or smoke or anything like that. He is such a family man, really hard working. They are such a gorgeous family.’

Two police vans were parked outside the family home yesterday. There was no answer at the well-kept property in a quiet cul-de-sac in the suburb of West Derby, north-east of the city centre. 

Liverpool had paraded their Premier League trophy along the waterfront, in front of the city’s famous Royal Liver building, just moments before the incident and thousands of supporters were making their way home or to bars to continue the celebration.

A flat-bed truck, which was being used to cordon off the street, had been moved by private contractors to let the emergency services through as it raced to a heart attack victim, police revealed.

Distressing footage posted online shows supporters banging on the car’s windows before it accelerated and hit fans at speed, causing several to be catapulted off the bonnet and leaving four trapped under its wheels.

Officers were on the scene within seconds.

The incident is not being treated as terrorism, officers have confirmed.