Man who gloated 'evening officer' before killing PC didn't take long to return to crime

A man who chillingly greeted an off-duty policeman with "evening officer" before his brutal killing, has been revealed as a money launderer for a drug gang under the EncroChat alias "Astralcleaner". Timmy Donovan became notorious in Merseyside for the appalling killing of Police Constable Neil Doyle during a night out in Liverpool city centre.

Now aged 40, Donovan was released on licence after serving just three years but hit the headlines again in 2021 when he faced charges linked to the EncroChat network following a raid at a Wavertree car showroom. Nearly four years on from his charge, Donovan was set to face trial in Manchester this month.

However, on the eve of his trial, Donovan and his co-defendants pleaded guilty to their crimes and are now awaiting sentencing in early February. The ECHO, in a weekly series delving into Merseyside's criminal past, has taken an in-depth look at Donovan's criminal career, from being a cop killer to becoming a significant figure in organised crime.

PC Doyle, who had served Merseyside Police for ten years, was enjoying a Christmas night out in December 2014 when he was attacked. Known for his work mostly in Liverpool, PC Doyle was a "well-liked" and "respected" operational officer, having received commendations for his role in arresting three men during a violent robbery.

During an evening out, he became embroiled in a confrontation with another group of men, who were celebrating a birthday outside a city centre nightclub. Among them were football agent Andrew Taylor and sports event manager Donovan, reports the Liverpool Echo.

Taylor contended that PC Doyle had "gone for him" after he greeted him jokingly.

The court was told during the trial that the two assailants recognized PC