The driver of a car that ploughed into a crowd at Liverpool’s victory parade used his vehicle “as a weapon”, it is alleged, as he faced court for the first time.
Ex-Royal Marine and businessman Paul Doyle, 53, is accused of injuring six victims in the incident on Water Street in the city centre on Monday.
Dramatic footage captured the moments a car drove into the crowd of Liverpool fans celebrating their team’s Premier League title win, with police saying 79 people suffering injuries.
Doyle, who was charged on Thursday, faces charges of wounding with intent as well as inflicting or attempting to inflict grievous bodily harm to four adults and two children, aged 11 and 17.
Philip Astbury, prosecuting, told a magistrates court hearing that Doyle is accused of “deliberately” using his vehicle “as a weapon”.
“This defendant drove deliberately at people amongst that crowd as they tried to leave the area”, he said, outlining the alleged offence.
“Six charges of assault reflect those most seriously injured. The first count of dangerous driving reflects the manner of driving before and up until he used his vehicle deliberately as a weapon to injure those individuals.”
Doyle, of the West Derby area of Liverpool, a father-of-three and former Royal Marine, appeared in the dock at the city’s magistrates’ court at just after 10.30am on Friday.
Wearing a black suit, white shirt and grey tie, he looked close to tears as he entered the secure dock and looked around at dozens of reporters packing the courtroom.
In a broken voice, he identified himself to District Judge Paul Healey before sitting down with his head bowed.
The judge agreed that the names of the alleged victims should be restricted at this stage of the case, before the charges were formally put to Doyle.
At a hearing later in the day at Liverpool crown court, Recorder of Liverpool Judge Andrew Menary KC set a provisional trial date for November 24.
Doyle was remanded in custody and is set to return to court to enter pleas on August 14.
He is accused of dangerous driving in a Ford Galaxy Titanium between his home address on Burghill Road and the scene of the crash in Water Street.
Doyle faces two charges of wounding with intent against a boy and a man, two allegations of inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent against two women, and two counts of attempting to inflict grievous bodily harm against a man and a boy.
The defendant did not indicate any pleas at either court hearing.
The court heard there may be an application to move the case to a courthouse outside Liverpool.
Thousands had gathered in the city centre to see the title-winning team parade the Premier League trophy when the vehicle struck the crowd.
At least 79 people were injured, including four children. The North West Ambulance Service said 27 people were taken to hospital, with two – including one child – suffering serious injuries. Twenty others were treated at the scene. Police said the youngest victim was nine and the oldest was 78.
Police believe the car accessed the crowd after following an ambulance crew attending a medical emergency, passing through a roadblock that had been temporarily lifted.
A spokesperson for Merseyside Police previously confirmed a partial closure was in place on Dale Street, leading into Water Street, to manage traffic during the celebrations attended by hundreds of thousands of fans.
In a statement issued to reporters on Thursday, chief crown prosecutor for CPS Mersey-Cheshire, Sarah Hammond, said: “The investigation is at an early stage.
“Prosecutors and police are continuing to work at pace to review a huge volume of evidence.
“This includes multiple pieces of video footage and numerous witness statements.
“It is important to ensure every victim gets the justice they deserve.”
At the press conference, Assistant Chief Constable of Merseyside Police, Jenny Sims, added: “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.”
Ms Sims said seven people remain in hospital.
By Wednesday, the cordon on Water Street had been lifted and the road reopened to traffic.
A fundraising campaign, the Liverpool Spirit Appeal, launched by the Community Foundation for Merseyside in partnership with Liverpool City Council and Liverpool Charity and Voluntary Services (LCVS), has raised more than £30,000 to support those affected. That includes a £10,000 donation from former Liverpool player Jamie Carragher's 23 Foundation.
