Father-of-three Paul Doyle was sentenced to 21 years and six months in prison this week after driving through a crowd of hundreds of football supporters, causing horrific injuries. Now many of his victims have bravely spoken out
What should have been a night of celebrations for fans turned into scenes of horror after a Paul Doyle senselessly ploughed into Liverpool FC supporters, causing hundreds of injuries. The 54-year-old was sentenced to 21 years and six months in prison this week after he used his car as a “weapon” to drive into more than 100 people on May 26.
Merseyside Police said it was a “miracle” that no-one died as a result of the incident, with footage from the father-of-two’s Ford Galaxy showing him accelerating aggressively towards crowds, hitting 134 people in only two minutes. Some suffered life-changing injuries and many were left traumatised – including a survivor of the Manchester Arena attack and a woman who fled the war in Ukraine. Sentencing Doye, Judge Menary said: “You struck people head on, knocked others on to the bonnet, crushed prams and forced others to scatter in terror. You ploughed on at speed, violently knocking people aside or running over them, person after person after person.”
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Shocking dashcam footage showed the moment bodies were thrown left and right, with people disappearing beneath the car and some clinging to the bonnet. In the footage that left even the most senior of police officers reeling, people can be heard screaming, while thumps and bangs take place as bikes and a baby’s pram are hit. Throughout those couple of minutes, Doyle lays on the car’s horn, the parking sensors beep constantly, and he shouts. “F***ing hell, move,” he repeats. “Get out the f***ing way”, “f***ing move”, “get off the f***ing road, you f***ing p***k”.
Detirmined to see Doyle get justice for his unthinkable crimes, victims and their families packed the courtroom this week – so much so that an overflow room had to be opened. Here, we reveal the brave testimony from victims of the terrifying rampage, whose lives have been changed forever…
Sheree Aldridge
A mother described how she thought her baby son had died after his pram was thrown into the air after being hit by Doyle’s car, admitting that she thought she would “be next”.
Sheree Aldridge, 37, said her partner Dan Eveson had proudly dressed their six-month-old son Teddy Eveson in his Liverpool FC shirt that day and “was excited to share this moment” with him.
Her statement in court read: “In that moment I thought I was going to die. I didn’t know where Dan and Teddy was. I felt an overwhelming pain in my leg and looked up to see Teddy’s pushchair on its side further up the road. I thought my Teddy was dead. I thought I was next. I thought my children would grow up without a mother.”
Ms Aldridge said her injuries made her feel “disgusting, disfigured and broken”. She has been diagnosed with a lifelong condition called Morel-Lavaellee Lesion and suffers from severe back and hip pain from prolonged use of crutches.
Since that day, Teddy has not been in a pushchair and Ms Aldridge said her legs “will never be the same”. She added: “This was supposed to be my maternity leave – a time to bond with my baby and make memories. Instead, I’ve been robbed of those moments.”
James Vernon
Cycle response paramedic James Vernon, who was on duty in the city centre on the day, said in his statement: “We are trained and well-rehearsed on how to respond to terrorist incidents, but nothing prepares you for the terror that I felt in that split second, the fear was immeasurable.”
He added: “Never in my life have I heard or seen my dad cry. I recall sitting in Mowgli on Water Street, which was a makeshift ward for all those injured, when I spoke to my dad on the phone. Hearing his voice break completely broke me, I burst into tears.”
One mother also said she couldn’t find her 14-year-old son after the incident. She said: “There were people everywhere and I honestly believed that he was underneath the car. I shouted for him, crying and scared. It felt like an eternity, but then I found him. The relief is like nothing I’ve felt before. I hugged him tightly and was so relieved.”
Anna Bilonozhenko
In a victim impact statement read by the prosecution, Anna Bilonozhenko, 43, who came to England in 2024 to escape the war in Ukraine, said she thought spending the day at the parade with her 22-year-old daughter Sasha would “lift our spirits”.
Instead, she was left with an injury that required metal plates to be inserted into her leg. She said: “We came to this country because of the war in our homeland, hoping to finally feel safe. At first, we did. But now that feeling has been taken away. Realising that is deeply painful – it feels like losing our safety all over again.”
Jack Trotter
Jack Trotter was taking videos of the parade with his fiancée when Doyle ploughed into fans. He was one of over 50 victims who were hospitalised after the rampage. Mr Trotter told the BBC that he was in “absolute agony” after suffering injuries to his back and leg when Doyle’s vehicle “clipped” him.
In a statement read in court, the 23-year-old revealed that since the attack, he’s had to quit football and is unable to do things he used to do with his three-year-old son. The couple, who had attended the celebrations with friends, have been left “traumatised”.
Mr Trotter, from Newtownards, County Down, said: “In the days and weeks following the incident, life was a struggle. I needed support with all aspects of my daily living. I was unable to shower or dress myself without my fiancee, Abbie’s help. Learning to walk again has been a long and often painful process.”
Abbie Chadwick
One woman injured in the carnage said before the incident she had been a PhD student in particle physics who worked at the large hadron collider at Cern – but has not worked a day since.
Abbie Chadwick, 29, said: “Immediately my life stopped, and my world shrunk.” Her statement read: “My life is now very different; I have not worked a single day since and can count on one hand the number of times I have been in public on my own.”
Sean Holt
Teacher Sean Holt, 25, said the pain from his injuries had stopped him playing football and golf, and left him even struggling to walk his dog.
His statement read: “This has made me feel socially isolated in a way that has affected relationships with my friends as I was missing out on things I used to do.”
Daniel Barr
An ex-soldier has been called a hero after managing to “crawl” into the back of Doyle’s car to stop him, but the incredible act of bravely has come at a huge cost. Daniel Barr, 41, placed Doyle’s vehicle into park mode and then held onto to the gear stick to try and get him to stop. As Dan climbed into the back seat, Doyle accelerated forwards and the door slammed shut.
“We’ve gone from total chaos – panic, screaming – to relative silence as he’s accelerated off,” he said. “Then you can just hear the people being hit and run over, like ten-pin bowling, pretty horrendous. I could see everything from where I was.”
The carnage of that day has brought Dan’s past trauma as a soldier to the surface, and he has since become angry and withdrawn. He said in his statement that he had kept the “high pressure, traumatic and dangerous situations” from his tours of Iraq “under wraps” for years.
“But since that day it has brought everything to the surface, and I find I can no longer put a mask on and carry on as normal,” he said. “I am angry when I go to bed. I don’t sleep very well, if at all. I wake up angry. Big things don’t bother me, but little things do. I am quick to anger and slow to hide it.
“I avoid socialising and I am more withdrawn, and I avoid working in teams as I struggle to take on board the simplest of instructions and patiently deal with colleagues. I forget appointments and having a timing to keep to stresses me out, and I can’t focus on anything else that day. Because of all of this I have taken some time out of work, which has now financially impacted me. I am behind on payments, so I am only just keeping my head above water.”
Lola Harrop
Lola Harrop, 20, devastated from the attack, said: “The trauma of it gives me skin crawling flashbacks of the screams I heard that day of both young and older innocent people. The images I saw that day will be forever imprinted in my mind of innocent people I could see under that car.”
Her statement went on to say: “I am only 20 years old – I should be going out and enjoying life but that man’s actions have taken that away from me and for that, forgiveness will never be an option.”
Sergeant Sadie Harker
In a statement read to the court, Sergeant Harker said it was the “single most traumatic event” she had experienced in more than 22 years of police service.
She said: “I feared for my life; the first time I have felt like that.” She explained that she has “overwhelming” feelings of helplessness, guilt and anger.
Simon Nash
Simon Nash, 53, said he was separated from his family when he was hit by Doyle’s car.
He revealed: “It wasn’t until two-and-a-half hours later when my wife finally located me at the hospital with a police officer that they knew what had happened to me and I got confirmation they were safe.
“I often replay the moments in my mind – the sound, the shock and fear. I feel a loss of confidence and safety in situations that never used to bother me. Every time I see a Ford Galaxy, the incident replays in my mind.”
Sergeant Dan Hamilton
A police sergeant has described the “sickening” noise of bodies being thrown into the air after they were hit by Doyle’s vehicle.
In his victim impact statement, Sergeant Dan Hamilton of Merseyside Police, said: “The distress of seeing the crowd scatter in panic and bodies being thrown into the air is something that will stay with me forever.
“The noise was sickening, dull thuds that are difficult to describe and impossible to forget. I remember lying on the floor thinking ‘This is it; I’m going to die.’
“Everything felt surreal. I remember hearing people screaming and crying. I saw a pram with no baby inside and thought the worst, I truly believed people had died. I was trying to make sense of the chaos.”
Adam Cooper
Adam Cooper, 25, said in his statement read to court that he now gets “nervy” hearing a car starting.
He said: “Even now after the event, I get flashbacks of the man that got hit and banged his head on the car bonnet, and to see how high he was flung into the air was horrible. I see people on the floor helpless and me just fleeing the scene to get myself to safety leaving them behind.”
Lauren Mooney
Lauren Mooney, 24, said she has suffered physically since the attack and is still undergoing physiotherapy.
She explained: “Emotionally, the incident has had a lasting effect on me. When I am out walking, I can become very anxious or panicky if I hear sudden or unexpected noises, such as those from a bike, train, or e-scooter – especially if I cannot immediately identify where the sound is coming from.”
Alan Spain
A 26-year-old man said that one of his favourite pastimes – watching Liverpool play – had now been forever “tainted”.
In a victim personal statement read in court, Alan Spain added: “Every time I watch them, I end up on Water Street. Every time I see the Liverpool jersey I was wearing that day, in my wardrobe, I end up on Water Street.
“Every time Liverpool score and I see the fans in the Kop jump and cheer and celebrate, I end up on Water Street.
“Because that’s what the crowd were doing. Everyone was cheering and celebrating, and everyone was in a joyous mood. Everyone was there to have fun. And that was ruined.”
Inspector Emma Haffenden
One of the police officers at the scene, Inspector Emma Haffenden of Merseyside Police, said it had been the worst incident she had dealt with in her 21-year career.
Inspector Haffenden, who injured her elbow in the incident, said: “I have now developed a fear of vehicles reversing due to what happened to me, and believing I was going to die.”
Unnamed child
A woman giving a statement on behalf of herself and her 13-year-old daughter, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, said she was now “anxious about being in crowded spaces and also fear when crossing roads or hearing the noise of a car horn”.
She said: “My daughter doesn’t really talk about the day and incident, and there are times where she is extremely quiet, she has a mentor at her school who she has started to open up to but keeps shutting herself down.”
Diamanti Nikiforaki
Diamanti Nikiforaki, 53, said: “Even now I remain deeply affected. I can no longer walk in the middle of pedestrianised areas. I am constantly hyper-vigilant and cautious, scanning my surroundings. I experience anticipatory anxiety and find it difficult to relax.”
Jamie Fagan
Jamie Fagan, 27, said he genuinely believed he would die when he was hit by Doyle’s car. His statement read: “The day that I was hit by the car plays in my mind ever since, there is not a day that I don’t think about it. I genuinely believed my life was about to end in one of the most catastrophic ways.
“My knees are always hurting from the impact of your car. I left my job… All of these things have compounded and have had an immeasurable effect on my wellbeing since the incident.”
Jeremy Pentecost
A 41-year-old man said the incident was “the worst experience of my life” and had made his job as a driver “scary”.
Jeremy Pentecost’s victim impact statement read: “Work affected my mental health, driving around all day on my own – at first I was seeing bodies flying here, there and everywhere, unable to stop thinking about the events of the day.”
Ian Moody
Ian Moody, 63, said he suffered “intense” physical pain from his injuries and now found himself “feeling very down and emotional over silly things”.
His wife Tracey Moody, 60, said she has nightmares about the experience. “My love is Liverpool Football Club, and I am finding it very difficult to go there,” her statement read.
The couple’s son Scott Moody, 26, said: “Psychologically I have been struggling since this day, I have frequent flashbacks when trying to sleep as I can see Water Street while I have my eyes shut, and I can see the chaos that was around me after the incident.”
Jacqueline McClaren
Jacqueline McClaren, 60, who injured her ankle, said she had not been able to attend football matches since.
She said: “I am scared of busy roads, the speed of cars, and I constantly worry that cars aren’t going to stop at traffic lights or pedestrian crossings. Since this incident happened, I have spent most days indoors.”
Unnamed child
Writing on behalf of her daughter, who cannot be named because of her age, a mother said in her victim impact statement that her child had to be referred for counselling following the incident.
She said: “I have witnessed certain changes in her since this incident, she has changed in herself, she has been suffering with anxiety, she has become clingy, not wanting to be away from us as she thinks something bad will happen, and she has formed irrational fears such as all of a sudden being petrified of dogs and will go into a complete meltdown if she sees a dog while we are out as a family.”
Gary Hearns
Gary Hearns, aged 32, said he has suffered anxiety, panic attacks, PTSD and sleepless nights since it happened.
He said: “The thoughts that have went through my head, depression, suicidal and very unpleasant thoughts. Any time the incident is mentioned I just zone out and go back to the day, it’s so clear I freeze, panic and relive it all over again.”
John Davey
In his statement, 31-year-old John Davey said the pain has been “relentless” after suffering spinal fractures in three places.
He said: “I cannot work, which means I cannot provide for my family… that has left me feeling ashamed, embarrassed, and broken, because it is not fair that they must suffer for what happened to me.
“I cannot see a future without pain, without stress, without anxiety. This incident has stolen my independence, my happiness, and my peace of mind. It has changed me forever, and it has changed my family’s life forever.”
Amanda Gardener
Another victim, Amanda Gardener, 52, said her physical injuries had healed but she struggled with the “mental side”.
She said: “One of the big feelings I have is guilt. I went to the parade with my sister and niece. My sister didn’t really want to go but I convinced them it would be a good day. I then saw my sister go flying into the air… My niece was hysterical, seeing that happen to her mum.”
Helen Gilmore
The court heard Helen Gilmore, 51, had been with her son Ashton, who was 17 at the time, at the parade.
She said: “No child should ever have to witness their parent being hit by a car, let alone be the one who has to pull them out of the road to safety. That moment, that responsibility, was far too much for someone his age to bear.”
Unnamed child
A mother whose 13-year-old son was injured in the parade said she has difficulty sleeping due to flashbacks and has visions of her son’s “terrified face”.
Her son still gets anxious in large crowds and avoids busy places, she added. He said: “I found myself on the floor having been hit by a car I did not see coming, I have never felt so scared before in my life.”
The boy’s mother said in her statement her heart sunk when she saw her child motionless on the floor. She said: “My injuries have since healed but it’s the aftermath I have found hard to cope with and has caused me much anxiety having to watch my son deal with the pain, the frustration, him feeling down and isolated from his friends in school, the nightmares and the aftereffects on him.
“The sight of my son lying motionless on the road, not moving for those few seconds, and the sound of the car hitting people will live with me forever.”
Scott Dolan
Scott Dolan, 36, who suffered knee, back and hand injuries, said he had “lost months of my life not being able to do things I love to do” and was off work for about two months.
His statement read: “I’ve had flashbacks from time to time. I feel anxious when the incident is brought up in conversation and I now have a reluctance to travel into Liverpool city centre.”
Jessica Fawcett
Jessica Fawcett, 21, said she had quit her job as a nursery worker because she could not work on her injured foot all day, had become isolated and no longer felt safe near cars or roads.
Her statement read: “The emotional and psychological injury is also still with me, and I don’t yet know what the full impact of this will be.”
READ MORE: ‘I fled Ukraine to escape war – then Paul Doyle ploughed his car into me’
