Man Who Ploughed Into Liverpool FC Parade Described as ‘In a Rage’, Court Hears.

An ex- Royal Marine was a “man in a rage” as he mowed down scores of LFC supporters at a victory parade, an incident many initially feared to be a terrorist attack, a court has heard.

“The footage is truly shocking.”

Those injured in the incident cried as video from the car’s camera showed people being thrown into the air while he sped towards the gathering 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.

‘A Man in a Rage’

The prosecution stated the court that the video evidence from Doyle’s large people carrier proved to be “truly shocking”. The recording revealed the parent shouting “fucking pricks” and “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 “individual whose anger whose anger had completely taken hold of him” as he continued driving into the mass of people, accelerating as people collided with his car.

Extent of the Injuries

Overall, the ex-marine injured 134 people within a mere seven-minute span – with over fifty who needed hospital treatment. A six-month-old boy was “remarkably” uninjured despite being left splayed on the road after the vehicle struck his stroller, according to testimony.

One fan, Simon Nash, was shown being thrown into the air by the vehicle, sustaining a laceration on his head, rib fractures and multiple abrasions.

The defendant was heard screaming “fuck’s sake move! Get out of my path!” before ploughing further into panicked fans, including an elderly woman and children who were dragged under the car.

Celebration Descends into Chaos

Addressing a packed courtroom, the prosecution said approximately a million individuals had attended “what they thought would be a joyous occasion” to celebrate the football club’s championship win. Scenes of jubilation swiftly became “horror”, it was said, when the driver entered the crowd as he attempted to pick up a friend from the parade route.

“Witnesses believed what was taking place was a terrorist attack.”

Rampage Halted by Heroic Act

As bodies lay on the ground, the vehicle’s path was stopped by a former soldier, 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.

During questioning, Doyle claimed he acted in a “state of sheer panic” due to a fear for his safety. However, prosecutors contended that the video showed Doyle “simply lost control in his determination to reach his destination”. The prosecutor added: “Consumed by anger, he drove into the crowd and as he did so his intent was to cause serious injury.”

Reckless Behavior Before the Attack

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

The defendant is expected to receive a prison sentence of more than 10 years at his sentencing hearing.

Steve Reed
Steve Reed

Blockchain developer and interoperability specialist, passionate about building decentralized bridges to connect diverse ecosystems.