A former Royal Marine acted as a “man in a rage” when he drove into scores of Liverpool football club supporters during a victory parade, an incident many initially feared to be a act of terrorism, according to court proceedings.
“The footage was truly shocking.”
Victims in the incident cried while video from the car’s camera depicted bodies spinning through the air as he accelerated into crowds while screaming: “Get out of the way!”
Doyle, 54, is due to be sentenced on Tuesday following his guilty plea on the first day of his trial last month to 31 offences involving 29 victims, including eight minors.
The prosecution warned those in court that the video evidence from the defendant’s large people carrier was “extremely graphic”. The recording revealed the father of three shouting “fucking pricks” as well as “fucking move” while he headed straight for hundreds of fans, some pulling children out of the way as he blasted the horn.
The court was told that Doyle was a “individual whose anger had completely overpowered him” as he ploughed further into the crowd, accelerating as people collided with his car.
Overall, the ex-marine hurt 134 people in just seven minutes – including more than 50 requiring hospital care. An infant was “remarkably” uninjured despite being left splayed on the road after the vehicle struck his stroller, according to testimony.
A supporter, Simon Nash, was seen being launched into the air by the car, sustaining a cut to the back of his head, broken ribs and numerous scrapes.
Doyle was heard screaming “fuck’s sake move! Get out my fucking way!” prior to driving deeper into screaming supporters, including an elderly woman and children who were dragged under the car.
Addressing a packed courtroom, the prosecution said approximately a million individuals were present at “what they thought would be a day of joyfulness” marking the football club’s championship win. The celebratory atmosphere turned to “horror”, it was said, as Doyle drove into oncoming fans as he attempted to pick up a friend who had been at the parade.
“Some at the scene believed what was taking place constituted a terrorist incident.”
As bodies lay on the ground, the vehicle’s path was brought to a halt by an ex-army member, a man identified in court, who climbed into a rear passenger seat and forced the gearstick into park. Even then, Doyle kept his foot on the accelerator, the court heard.
In his police interview, the defendant claimed he acted in a “state of sheer panic” due to a fear for his safety. However, prosecutors contended that the dashcam footage showed Doyle “simply lost control in his desire to get to where he wanted to get to”. The prosecutor added: “Consumed by anger, he targeted the crowd and in doing so he intended to cause them serious harm.”
The video showed Doyle had been driving dangerously before he reached the city centre, undertaking cars at speed and running red lights. He ignored traffic diversion measures and weaved around other vehicles, even emergency service vehicles, as he entered the crowds.
The defendant is understood to be facing a jail term of more than 10 years at his sentencing hearing.
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