Liverpool FC Parade Collision: Man Charged with Multiple Offences
A 53-year-old man has been charged with multiple offences after a car ploughed into a crowd at the end of Liverpool football club’s Premier League victory parade, according to a report by The Guardian. Paul Doyle, from the West Derby area of Liverpool, was charged with dangerous driving, causing grievous bodily harm with intent, wounding with intent to cause GBH, and attempting to cause GBH with intent.
The charges relate to six victims, and two of the charges – wounding with intent and attempted grievous bodily harm – relate to a child. Doyle, an IT professional, was remanded in custody and appeared at Liverpool magistrates court on Friday. The incident took place on Water Street in the city centre at about 6pm on bank holiday Monday, when thousands of people had gathered to watch the title winners display the Premier League trophy on an open-top bus.
At least 79 people were injured in the incident, with 27 people taken to hospital, including two with serious injuries, one of whom was a child. According to the North West ambulance service, four children were injured in total, the youngest aged nine, and 20 people were treated at the scene. In a press conference at Merseyside police headquarters on Thursday, Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims said seven people remained in hospital being treated for their injuries.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing, with detectives analysing volumes of CCTV footage, dashcam material, and police body-worn video. The Guardian reports that the Crown Prosecution Service said the charges against Doyle would remain under review as the investigation progresses. Sims said: "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 answers to all those questions. When we are able to, we will provide further information."
Merseyside police later confirmed that 50 people were treated at the region’s hospitals, with the oldest person injured being 78. Det Supt Rachel Wilson, of Merseyside police, urged people not to speculate on the circumstances surrounding the incident and to refrain from sharing distressing content online. The cordon on Water Street, where the incident took place, was lifted by Wednesday morning and the road reopened to traffic.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the city of Liverpool, with many still trying to come to terms with the events of that day. As The Guardian reports, Sims added: "We know Monday’s shocking scenes reverberated around the city of Liverpool, and the entire country, on what should have been a day of celebration for hundreds of thousands of Liverpool FC supporters. Our thoughts remain with all those affected." The investigation is ongoing, and Merseyside police are working to piece together the events surrounding the incident.
In related news, the police investigation has been aided by an outpouring of support from the public, with many offering assistance and information to help identify those responsible. As the investigation continues, The Guardian will provide updates on the latest developments.
