🔗 Share this article

A former Royal Marines Commando was a “man in a rage” when he mowed down scores of Liverpool football club fans at a victory parade, an incident many initially feared to be a act of terrorism, according to court proceedings.

“The footage was truly shocking.”

Those injured in the incident wept as dashcam footage depicted bodies spinning through the air as he accelerated into crowds while screaming: “Get out of the way!”

Doyle, 54, will learn his fate on Tuesday following his guilty plea on the first day of his trial last month to 31 offences against 21 adults and eight children.

‘Consumed by Anger’

Prosecutors stated the court that the footage from Doyle’s two-tonne Ford Galaxy was “truly shocking”. The recording revealed the father of three yelling “fucking pricks” as well as “fucking move” while he headed straight for a large crowd of supporters, some pulling children out of the way as he blasted the horn.

It was stated in court that Doyle was a “man in a rage had completely overpowered him” as he ploughed further into the crowd, accelerating while individuals were struck by his vehicle.

Extent of the Injuries

In total, the former Royal Marine injured 134 individuals in just seven minutes – including more than 50 who needed hospital treatment. A six-month-old boy was “remarkably” uninjured even though he was left on the roadway when Doyle’s car hit his pram, the court heard.

One fan, Simon Nash, was shown being thrown into the air by the car, sustaining a laceration to the back of his head, rib fractures and numerous scrapes.

The defendant was heard screaming “fuck’s sake move! Get out my fucking way!” before ploughing further into screaming supporters, including an elderly woman and children who became trapped beneath the vehicle.

Celebration Descends into Chaos

Addressing a packed courtroom, the prosecution said about 1 million people had attended “what they thought would be a day of joyfulness” marking the football club’s championship win. Scenes of jubilation swiftly became “horror”, the prosecutor said, when the driver entered the crowd while trying to collect a companion who had been at the parade.

“Some at the scene believed the events unfolding was a terrorist attack.”

Rampage Halted by Heroic Act

As bodies lay on the ground, Doyle’s rampage was stopped by an ex-army member, a man identified in court, who climbed into a rear passenger seat and held the car’s gear selector in “park”. Even then, Doyle kept his foot on the accelerator, the court heard.

In his police interview, Doyle stated he acted in a “blind panic” due to a fear for his safety. However, prosecutors contended that the dashcam footage showed Doyle “just lost his temper in his determination to reach his destination”. The prosecutor added: “Consumed by anger, he targeted the crowd and as he did so he intended to cause them serious harm.”

Dangerous Driving Prior to Incident

The video showed the driver had been driving dangerously before he reached the city centre, overtaking cars dangerously and jumping red lights. He ignored road closures and weaved around other cars, including an ambulance and police cars, as he entered the crowds.

Doyle is understood to be facing a jail term of more than 10 years when he is sentenced on Tuesday.