Liverpool FC parade suspect Paul Doyle has been charged with 24 new alleged offences, including the attempted assault of babies aged as young as six months. The 53-year-old, of Burghill Road in West Derby, had previously faced a total of seven criminal counts after a car was driven into crowds of fans during the Reds’ Premier League title celebrations in Liverpool city centre.
More than 100 pedestrians, ranging from children to a 78-year-old woman, were injured after being struck by a Ford Galaxy on Water Street shortly after 6pm on Monday, May 26, with 50 having required hospital treatment. They have since been discharged from hospital, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Doyle was previously charged with two counts of wounding with intent, against 52-year-old Simon Nash and an 11-year-old boy, two charges of inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent, in which the complainants are named as 66-year-old Christine Seeckts and 78-year-old Susan Passey, two of attempting to inflict grievous bodily harm upon 18-year-old Ethan Gillard and a 17-year-old boy and dangerous driving.
He is scheduled to face a trial, lasting three to four weeks, on November 24 this year.
His case was listed before Liverpool Crown Court this morning, Thursday, for a plea and trial preparation hearing.
Appearing via video link to HMP Belmarsh wearing a grey t-shirt, he wiped away tears as he spoke only to confirm his name during proceedings and was not ultimately asked to enter any pleas.
However, Paul Greaney KC, prosecuting, confirmed that Doyle, who was seen making notes with a pen and paper during the hearing, had been charged with a number of additional offences.
The Crown Prosecution has now released details of these further counts.
These include 18 charges of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent.
The complainants in these matters have been named as Jack Trotter, Jon Evans, Scott Dolan, a 12-year-old child, a 17-year-old boy, a 10-year-old girl, Jacqueline McClaren, Jamie Fagan, a 13-year-old boy, Carl Martin, James Vernon, a six-month-old boy, Emily Wright, a seven-month-old boy, Hannah O’Neill, Stefan Dettlaf, David Price and James Weston.
Doyle has also been charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent against Helen Gilmore, Anna Bilonozhenko, Sheree Aldridge and Sam Alexander.
He faces a further count of wounding Robin Darke with intent, while a 24th new alleged offence relates to a matter of affray.
Simon Csoka KC, defending, asked for his client not to be arraigned during the hearing in order to allow him to view and consider the new indictment.
Doyle will therefore now face an adjourned plea and preparation hearing on September 4, being further remanded into custody until this date.
His trial date remains in place for November. Adjoining the case, the Honorary Recorder of Liverpool Judge Andrew Menary KC told him: “I am going to adjourn this matter to the 4th of September. The purpose of that is to allow you to have sufficient time with the now new indictment. On that date, you can enter pleas to the indictment. You must remain in custody in the meantime.”
