Liverpool Parade Accused Pleads Not Guilty

[andy06shake]

A man accused of "using his car as a weapon" by deliberately driving into crowds of Liverpool FC fans has pleaded not guilty to 31 charges.
More than 130 people, including eight children, were injured when a Ford Galaxy car struck pedestrians on Water Street in Liverpool City Centre, as fans celebrated the club's Premier League victory parade on 26 May.
Former Royal Marine Commando Paul Doyle, 53, faces charges including causing grievous bodily harm with intent and dangerous driving.
He appeared at Liverpool Crown Court via videolink from prison where he answered "not guilty" as each of the charges were put to him.
The allegations against Mr Doyle, of Burghill Road in West Derby, Liverpool, relate to 29 victims, including two babies.

Pleading not guilty seems questionable considering the allegations involve a deliberate act.

Then there is the extensive evidence from witnesses, CCTV, and injuries.

Denying responsibility is pretty much implausible imho.

Not to mention judges generally dislike time-wasters or those who refuse to accept responsibility for their actions.




https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwyl...20to%20him.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...e-incident

[David64]

Did he do it just because he was a fan of a rival team ?

That's insane to get so wrapped up in a sports team that you'd hurt other people.

[andy06shake]

Did he do it just because he was a fan of a rival team ?

That's insane to get so wrapped up in a sports team that you'd hurt other people.

The idiot tailgated an ambulance into a sealed-off section of the city, chose to drive down the wrong road, into the crowd, and panicked.

I dont think it was about rival football teams. 

Just sheer stupidity.

But it was of his own making....

It's, at the very least, dangerous driving, which resulted in multiple instances of grievous bodily harm, some of them being children.

[Tecate]

Ex Royal Marine….
I wonder if PTSD will be coming up in his defense?

Personally I don’t understand it fully as I have never served in a military/combat role, but having 30+ years as a street Medic I have been shot at and seen some nasty things.

I am just saying that some people are more susceptible to it than others and I have seen it used as a defense. I will try to keep up on it as the case progresses.

As usual, my 2 pesos….

Tecate

[andy06shake]

Ex Royal Marine….
I wonder if PTSD will be coming up in his defense?

Personally I don’t understand it fully as I have never served in a military/combat role, but having 30+ years as a street Medic I have been shot at and seen some nasty things.

I am just saying that some people are more susceptible to it than others and I have seen it used as a defense. I will try to keep up on it as the case progresses.

As usual, my 2 pesos….

Tecate

Quite possibly, but i cannot tell you if he has been previously diagnosed with PTSD.

I don't imagine he committed the stupidity or insane act out of any sort of malice.

I think, for the most part, his fight or flight instinct kicked in, and he tried to flee the rather hostile crowd.

But that does not mean he was not responsible for his own actions behind the wheel, and in charge of the motor vehicle.

[quintessentone]

Ex Royal Marine….
I wonder if PTSD will be coming up in his defense?

Personally I don’t understand it fully as I have never served in a military/combat role, but having 30+ years as a street Medic I have been shot at and seen some nasty things.

I am just saying that some people are more susceptible to it than others and I have seen it used as a defense. I will try to keep up on it as the case progresses.

As usual, my 2 pesos….

Tecate

It might well be the reason for his dangerous driving.

"Symptoms of PTSD That May Affect DrivingPeople with PTSD experience a range of symptoms that can interfere with their ability to drive safely. Here are some common symptoms:
Flashbacks and Intrusive ThoughtsFlashbacks can cause an individual to relive traumatic experiences as if they are happening in real-time. This disassociation can lead to dangerous situations while driving, as the person may not be fully aware of their surroundings.
HypervigilanceHypervigilance refers to an enhanced state of sensory sensitivity accompanied by an exaggerated intensity of behaviors whose purpose is to detect threats. This constant state of alertness can lead to distraction while driving, making it difficult for individuals to focus on the road.
Panic AttacksPanic attacks often manifest as sudden feelings of intense fear or discomfort. Symptoms include rapid heartbeat, sweating, shaking, and feelings of impending doom. Experiencing a panic attack while driving can be particularly hazardous."

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"According to a study published in Journal of Affective Disorders, individuals with anxiety disorders were found to have a heightened risk of car accidents due to impaired focus and increased stress levels while driving (Mehling et al., 2011). Another study in Traumatology found that PTSD can have a direct impact on driving, with individuals experiencing heightened startle responses, intrusive memories, and emotional numbness, all of which contribute to unsafe driving behaviors (Kuhn et al., 2010)."

The Impact of Mental Health on Driving: Managing Anxiety, PTSD & Safety Behind the Wheel — Elevated Horizons Mental Health

The question now is, was he prescribed PTSD drugs, and if so, are they a contributing factor?

[andy06shake]

It might well be the reason for his dangerous driving.

"Symptoms of PTSD That May Affect DrivingPeople with PTSD experience a range of symptoms that can interfere with their ability to drive safely. Here are some common symptoms:
Flashbacks and Intrusive ThoughtsFlashbacks can cause an individual to relive traumatic experiences as if they are happening in real-time. This disassociation can lead to dangerous situations while driving, as the person may not be fully aware of their surroundings.
HypervigilanceHypervigilance refers to an enhanced state of sensory sensitivity accompanied by an exaggerated intensity of behaviors whose purpose is to detect threats. This constant state of alertness can lead to distraction while driving, making it difficult for individuals to focus on the road.
Panic AttacksPanic attacks often manifest as sudden feelings of intense fear or discomfort. Symptoms include rapid heartbeat, sweating, shaking, and feelings of impending doom. Experiencing a panic attack while driving can be particularly hazardous."

--------------

"According to a study published in Journal of Affective Disorders, individuals with anxiety disorders were found to have a heightened risk of car accidents due to impaired focus and increased stress levels while driving (Mehling et al., 2011). Another study in Traumatology found that PTSD can have a direct impact on driving, with individuals experiencing heightened startle responses, intrusive memories, and emotional numbness, all of which contribute to unsafe driving behaviors (Kuhn et al., 2010)."

The Impact of Mental Health on Driving: Managing Anxiety, PTSD & Safety Behind the Wheel — Elevated Horizons Mental Health

The question now is, was he prescribed PTSD drugs, and if so, are they a contributing factor?

If that was the case, then he should never have been behind the wheel of a car.

Especially so if we start to involve certain medications.

Hence, he was still very culpable for his own actions.

But it's mere speculation.

We dont even know if PTSD is a factor.

And point of fact, plenty of people with mental health issues(myself included) manage to make it through the day without injuring 79 people.

[quintessentone]

If that was the case, then he should never have been behind the wheel of a car.

Especially so if we start to involve certain medications.

Hence, he was still very culpable for his own actions.

But it's mere speculation.

We dont even know if PTSD is a factor.

And point of fact, plenty of people with mental health issues(myself included) manage to make it through the day without injuring 79 people.

Oh I totally agree that one should know one's limits mentally and health-wise before getting behind the wheel of a car, that's why the elderly are put under more scrutiny and testing. But, PTSD, is not your average anxiety case and some other conditions, more severe, such as Reactive Detachment Disorder and Adjustment Disorders are overlooked when diagnosing PTSD or not included in the assessment.

Yes, it's mere speculation, but the possibility of PTSD is high IMO.

[andy06shake]

Oh I totally agree that one should know one's limits mentally and health-wise before getting behind the wheel of a car, that's why the elderly are put under more scrutiny and testing. But, PTSD, is not your average anxiety case and some other conditions, more severe, such as Reactive Detachment Disorder and Adjustment Disorders are overlooked when diagnosing PTSD or not included in the assessment.

Yes, it's mere speculation, but the possibility of PTSD is high IMO.

I still dont think he should be able to play the mental health card as an excuse.
 
Not when there were over 130 people injured.

Including at least 50 hospitalised, 4 of them being kids.
 
Not that i imagine that it's avenue any good defence lawyer would not attempt to explore.

[quintessentone]

I still dont think he should be able to play the mental health card as an excuse.
 
Not when there were over 130 people injured.

Including at least 50 hospitalised, 4 of them being kids.
 
Not that i imagine that it's avenue any good defence lawyer would not attempt to explore.

But if PTSD was the cause of the dangerous driving then why not bring this problem to light? That does not mean that he can just walk away without consequences, because he should have dealt with this problem before getting behind the wheel of a car. He should be culpable for his actions, or inactions in ensuring he was not a danger to others.

Who knows what changes can be implemented for one to be able to keep one's driver's license, or prove competence, for the safety of the public at large?