EXCLUSIVE 'Stunned' friends claim ex-Royal Marine commando charged over Liverpool parade crash is 'hard-working, churchgoing family man' - as he is set to appear in court
A father-of-three charged with mowing down and injuring fans at Liverpool FC's victory parade is a 'churchgoing family man' who has left his close friends 'stunned'.
Former Royal Marine commando Paul Doyle, 53, will appear in court today accused of seven offences, including dangerous driving and causing grievous bodily harm following Monday's carnage.
Some 79 people were injured, including four children, when the married father-of-three allegedly tailgated an ambulance through a roadblock and ploughed into crowds celebrating the Premier League title win.
The youngest victim was aged just nine and the eldest was 78, police revealed yesterday.
Shocking video footage showed supporters banging on the windows and doors of a Ford Galaxy before it smashed into supporters, catapulting several over the bonnet and trapping others under its wheels.
Police officers were on the scene in seconds and arrested Doyle, who was questioned for almost 72 hours before being charged last night.
A close friend of the middle-class Doyles said he and his wife, who have been married for 20 years, were churchgoers and involved with a local Scout group.
'I just can't believe it,' she said. 'They are like part of the family, we have known them for years, their boys grew up with our children, I'm stunned, I really am.
'It's so out of character. Paul doesn't drink or smoke or anything like that. He is such a family man, really hard working. They are such a gorgeous family.'
Another close friend of Doyle's told the Mail he was not a football fan and had simply been dropping off a friend in the city centre as a favour when the incident occurred.
'I believe he was doing someone a favour and dropping his wife's friend and her daughter off for an appointment,' the friend said. 'He is a nice lad. He has a heart of gold.'
Detectives quickly ruled out terrorism as a motive and went public with some details of the suspect to head off misinformation swirling on social media within hours of the incident.
Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Sarah Hammond, chief crown prosecutor for Merseyside and Cheshire, said Doyle had been charged with dangerous driving and six other GBH-related offences, including two of causing GBH with intent, two of wounding with intent to cause GBH and two of attempted GBH.
The charges relate to six alleged victims, including two children hurt in the attack.
Doyle was initially held on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs. But last night the Crown Prosecution Service confirmed he had not been charged with any drug-related offences.
However, Ms Hammond said police inquiries were at an 'early stage' and added: 'The charges will be kept under review as the investigation progresses.'
It is understood Doyle, a former company director, passed out of the Royal Marine Commando Training Centre, also known as CTCRM, in 1991 and served with 43 Commando, the unit based in Arbroath, Scotland, that helps secure the UK's nuclear deterrent.
After leaving the Forces, the keen runner went on to read psychology and maths at a Russell Group university before moving into cyber security roles.
Jenny Sims, assistant chief constable of Merseyside Police, said her officers were reviewing a 'huge volume' of
CCTV and mobile phone footage, as well as video from vehicle dashcams and police bodycams as part of their inquiries.
She said: 'This continues to be a large and complex investigation. Merseyside Police is determined to gather as much evidence as possible to ensure that every avenue is explored.'
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