Victims of the car attack at Liverpool’s Premier League title parade have spoken out for the first time – revealing the health issues they have been suffering with and explaining why they feel they have been left out in the cold by the club after the incident that shook the city.
In December former Royal Marine Paul Doyle was sentenced to 21 years and six months in prison after he drove into crowds of Liverpool supporters during their title celebrations last May, leaving fans fleeing for their lives and some buried under his vehicle.
Doyle, a married father-of-three from Croxteth, Liverpool, said that he ‘panicked’ and drove the car into the crowds on May 26 out of fear for his own life. But footage captured on his own dashcam and CCTV showed that he lost his temper and deliberately drove his car as a ‘weapon’ in a fit of rage.
Stefan Dettlaf, 73, broke six ribs in the attack and spent a number of days in hospital. In a new interview on 5 News at 5, the Reds supporter said he in fact felt sympathetic for Doyle as he finally felt able to open up for the first time – but had some harsh words for the club.
‘I owe him no sorrow or anything but he really looked as though he was going through it,’ Dettlaf said. ‘I did feel sorry for him in the court.
‘I see people saying he deserved everything he got and should have got a lot more and absolutely agree. Then I see the other side where he never killed anybody as well which was absolute pure luck.’
Dettlaf revealed he hasn’t felt comfortable to speak aboutthe incident until now – 294 days on from the attack.
‘For months after – right up until January – even talking about this I would break down talking about it,’ he added. ‘At first, I was terrible with all the flashbacks and everything and all these random faces people in these flashbacks saying, ‘don’t worry you’re alright you’re going to live’.’
134 victims were officially listed from the day, with the Merseyside Police describing it as ‘pure luck’ that there were no fatalities.
The football club told 5 News that it was only given details of around 30 victims, and were not allowed to contact them directly.
They said the names they were sent were graded by severity. Mr Dettlaf, though, wasn’t pleased with the lack of support he says he has received from the club.
‘I believe Liverpool have let us down,’ he claimed. ‘I didn’t expect anyone to personally come and see me even though it would have been nice. You know somebody to come and say from the club, “how are you?”, “we’re concerned about you”. No offers of counselling from the club or anything.
‘The club – total disinterest. I’ve supported this club for over sixty years.’
Dean Townsend, 31, who suffered three broken ribs when he attended the parade with his nephew, who was also injured, echoed Dettlaf’s views, saying: ‘I feel well and truly forgotten. I’m possibly not the only one. I know I’m not the only one who feels forgotten about by the club.’
Townsend has suffered with epilepsy in his life, and says his issues have ‘spiralled out of control’ since.
‘I’ve suffered psychological injuries. I’m undergoing counselling two times a week and so far I’m only seeing some returns from my counselling now,’ he said.
Doyle, described as a ‘family man’ by prosecutors, wept as footage of the horrific rampage was shown to the city’s crown court multiple times in mid-December.
His sentencing hearing was told the 54-year-old was ‘in a rage’ and his ‘anger had completely taken hold of him’.
Doyle previously pleaded guilty to 31 offences relating to seriously injuring people during the victory parade in May. He injured a total of 134 people in seven minutes.
Prosecutors said in the space of two minutes, his Ford Galaxy – which weighed nearly two tonnes – collided with ‘well over 100 people’ and he was ‘prepared to cause those in the crowd, even children, serious harm if necessary to achieve his aim of getting through’.
Doyle admitted dangerous driving, affray, 17 charges of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent, nine counts of causing GBH with intent, and three counts of wounding with intent last month.
He had previously denied the offences, which relate to 29 victims aged between six months and 77 years.
Horrifying dashcam footage was displayed to the court on the first day of his sentencing hearing, with the defendant heard shouting ‘move’, ‘f***ing p****s’ and ‘get out the f***ing way’.
Pedestrians pulled their children out of the path of Doyle’s car to stop them being hit, and the footage showed the windscreen smash after a man landed on it.
Doyle cried as the footage was shown to the court, putting his head down and shutting his eyes as the footage showed his car hitting crowds of supporters.
Victims in court were also in tears as the video was played.
When approached by Daily Mail Sport, Liverpool said of the details given, there was an emphasis on those most seriously injured and children – and the club said they contacted all of them in the weeks after the attack.
It is also understood that manager Arne Slot reached out to all of them, with some of the club’s players also getting in touch with some of the younger victims, and the club continue to offer support to victims who have since come to their attention.
