Missed family holidays and ruined relationships: Victims share crippling impact of Liverpool victory parade crash one year on

“They say life goes on, but how can it be after going through hell?”

With a deep sigh, Dan Eveson reflects on the horrific chain of events at the Liverpool victory parade that left him with life-changing injuries and a daily reminder of the horror he experienced that day. He says Paul Doyle’s screams, screams and pain as he drove his car through the innocent crowd were never heard.

Anger still burns strong inside him.

The tragedy on May 26, 2025 was so violent that prosecutors opted to show just 140 seconds of CCTV footage from the silent courtroom – but it was enough.

For the survivors, the harrowing ordeal continues 12 months later; in nightmares, flashbacks and physical injuries.

Mr Eveson, 37, is a former soldier with the Royal Military Police but it was the tragedy in Liverpool last year that hit him hardest; He had lost his job at the factory due to the serious back injuries he now suffers from being hit by a car.

The horror of watching his young son Teddy being thrown 15ft down the road still haunts his sleep.

“When the case is over [in December]”It was like ‘that’s it, we’re sorry about what happened, now get on with your life’ – but how do you do it?” he says. “How can you do this when you don’t have a job, you’re stuck at home in pain, you’re struggling in your relationship, and you can’t forget?”

Mr Eveson and his partner Sheree Aldridge – who had more than 70 medical appointments for nerve damage to her limbs and a spinal cord injury resulting from the crash of Doyle’s 1.9-tonne Ford Galaxy – were among dozens of victims who asked to be heard during his sentencing.

Among them was 73-year-old Stefan Dettlaff, who said he often broke down in tears after breaking six ribs and cried over what happened. Amanda Gardener, 52, described the feeling of “guilt” she felt after bringing in her sister who was sent “blown away”.

Ukrainian woman Anna Bilonozhenko, who escaped from the war with Russia in 2024, said: “We came to this country because of the war in our homeland, hoping to finally feel safe. At first we did so. But now that feeling has disappeared.” Fearing for the lives of his children and wife, cancer survivor David Price said: “Trauma has taken me to a darker place than ever before in my fight with cancer.”

Others have lost special family moments and money due to not being able to work after 12 months.

“Last year was hell,” says Mike Blair, an electrician who bravely rescued people trapped underneath Doyle’s car after it stalled. Injuries to his hands, arms and back caused his work to stop while he recovered in the hospital and at home.

But failing to complete scheduled work cost him £70,000 and the 31-year-old is still behind on the job today.

“I had to borrow money from family and friends to cover the costs,” he says. “It took away my independence and shook my confidence. Even now, as I try to regroup, I still struggle to breathe due to injuries.

“We had so little help though, it was an eye opener… it’s a tough world and when something like this happens you’re on your own.”

Teenager Aaron Cothliff was bedridden due to a leg injury in the accident and was unable to shower or dress without his mother’s help.

“My family missed our first holiday abroad,” he says. “I had to sell concert tickets and missed a few friends’ birthday events that I was looking forward to. I had to cancel my driving test.”

The 18-year-old returned to work as a prep chef two months after the accident, but his hours were reduced. “It changed my life,” he says.

One of the heroes of the tragedy was 41-year-old former gunman Dan Barr, who stopped the enraged vehicle by climbing into the back seat and forcing the gear lever into park. In February he received the High Sheriff’s Award and £250 for his actions.

Reflecting on the day from a shipyard where he is rebuilding a minibus, Mr Barr says events remain largely blurry. He suffered a head injury that he suspects was caused by Doyle during the confrontation inside the vehicle, but he is not sure.

He has been unemployed ever since.

“I’m trying to fix myself,” he says, explaining that he’s had trouble focusing on instructions since the accident. “I can’t understand this, but now when I’m working I’ll be a little quick and embarrassed about things like forgetting things.

“Sometimes I will feel lost and confused before my mind retreats to something else.”

Asked if he thinks about what happened, he said: “I think about it a lot. I try to stop. If I catch myself thinking about it too much, I try to catch myself and try to do something else because I can get angry about it. I saw his face.” [Doyle]I felt his aggression. This will stay with you.

Mr Barr is looking forward to the mindset training after being selected along with other veterans for a workshop starting on the Wirral. He also says he speaks regularly to other survivors, including Mr Eveson, as part of “group-like rehabilitation”.

Doyle, who was revealed in court to have a history of violence despite his image as the “perfect family man” in the eyes of his neighbors, was sentenced to 21 years and six months in prison by Judge Andrew Menary KC. The judge told him that “it is difficult, if not impossible, to convey in words alone the scene of devastation you have caused.”

Given that there was no trial, he did not present a defense and the motive behind his actions remains unclear. It was said that he acted in self-defense, fearing for his safety; But for unbelieving victims, the unanswered questions only increased the pain.

Some support was provided to victims.

Liverpool FC has contacted those with details of the club and details of support services have been shared through channels. Fundraisers for the bereaved also saw thousands of pounds distributed, including to Mr Eveson, Ms Aldridge and Mr Blair.

Former manager Arne Slot personally wrote to victims, and the Liverpool FC Foundation and former players’ association Forever Reds donated £50,000 to a victim’s fundraiser.

More money could come as victims’ lawyers push for payment.

But some still question the planning of the event, which drew more than 1 million people, and how Doyle’s vehicle was able to land on Water Street, where it struck most of the 134 people. In court, prosecutors said Doyle blocked the back of an ambulance that had driven him through a roadblock.

An independent safety report earlier this year, which did not focus on Doyle’s attack for the case, found the planning was “extensive” but there were gaps in the legislation allowing some “high-risk behavior” in large crowds.

Liverpool City Council leader Liam Robinson has written to the Home Office calling for stricter rules on the use of flares and gestures to stop people climbing lampposts and scaffolding at large events. The Home Office said they never received Mr Robinson’s request.

But for most of the survivors, it took more to prevent Doyle’s car from entering Water Street.

“Appropriate barriers had to be in place and appropriately staffed,” Mr Blair says.

Mr Eveson said: “To this day I still can’t get over the fact that there were no stalls, but there were KFC-like signs. It’s like it’s all been swept under the carpet and forgotten and we’re just expected to get on with it.”

“We’re all left alone,” he adds, before pointing out the irony of Liverpool’s slogan; “You will never walk alone”.

A Liverpool City Council spokesman said: “The cornerstone of any traffic management plan is that drivers obey the law. Paul Doyle drove consciously over all road closures and followed an ambulance responding to an emergency incident.”