🔗 Share this article

A former Royal Marines Commando acted as a “man in a rage” as he drove into dozens of Liverpool football club supporters during a championship celebration, in what many feared was a act of terrorism, according to court proceedings.

“The video is deeply disturbing.”

Victims in the incident cried while dashcam footage 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 at the start of his trial last month to 31 criminal charges against 21 adults and eight children.

‘A Man in a Rage’

Prosecutors warned the court that the footage from Doyle’s large people carrier proved to be “truly shocking”. It showed the father of three yelling “expletives” and “fucking move” as he drove towards hundreds of fans, some pulling children out of the way as his car horn blared.

The court was told that Doyle acted as a “individual whose anger whose anger had completely taken hold of him” as he ploughed further into the crowd, accelerating as people collided with his car.

Scale of the Carnage

Overall, the ex-marine injured 134 individuals within a mere seven-minute span – including more than 50 requiring hospital care. An infant was “remarkably” unharmed even though he was left on the roadway after the vehicle struck his stroller, according to testimony.

One fan, Simon Nash, was seen being launched into the air by the car, suffering a cut on his head, rib fractures and numerous scrapes.

The defendant could be heard shouting “fuck’s sake move! Get out of my path!” before ploughing further into panicked fans, among them an older woman and young children who became trapped beneath the vehicle.

Scene of Jubilation Turns to Horror

Addressing a packed courtroom, the prosecution said about 1 million people were present at “an event they believed to be a joyous occasion” marking the football club’s championship win. Scenes of jubilation swiftly became “horror”, the prosecutor said, when the driver entered the crowd as he attempted to pick up a friend from the parade route.

“Some at the scene thought that what was taking place constituted a terrorist incident.”

Rampage Halted by Heroic Act

As bodies lay on the ground, the vehicle’s path was brought to a halt by a former soldier, a man identified in court, who climbed into a rear passenger seat and forced the gearstick into park. Despite this, Doyle kept his foot on the accelerator, according to evidence.

During questioning, 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 “just lost his temper in his determination to reach his destination”. It was further stated: “Consumed by anger, he targeted the crowd and in doing so he intended to cause them serious harm.”

Dangerous Driving Prior to Incident

Footage showed the driver was driving recklessly prior to entering downtown, undertaking cars at speed and jumping red lights. He ignored road closures and bypassed other vehicles, even emergency service vehicles, as he approached the packed streets.

Doyle is expected to receive a prison sentence of over a decade at his sentencing hearing.