🔗 Share this article

An ex- Royal Marine acted as a “person consumed by fury” when he drove into dozens of LFC fans at a championship celebration, an incident many initially feared to be a terrorist attack, a court has heard.

“The video is deeply disturbing.”

Those injured in the incident cried while dashcam footage depicted bodies spinning through the air as he accelerated into crowds and shouted: “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 29 victims, including eight minors.

‘Consumed by Anger’

The prosecution stated the court that the video evidence from the defendant’s large people carrier proved to be “truly shocking”. It showed the father of three yelling “expletives” and “fucking move” while he headed straight for a large crowd of supporters, with people frantically dragging children to safety as he blasted the horn.

The court was told that Doyle acted as a “man in a rage 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” unharmed despite being left splayed on the road when Doyle’s car hit his pram, according to testimony.

A supporter, a man named in court, was shown being thrown into the air by the vehicle, sustaining a laceration on his head, broken ribs and multiple abrasions.

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

Scene of Jubilation Turns to Horror

Speaking to a full court, lawyers said approximately a million individuals were present at “an event they believed to be a joyous occasion” marking the football club’s championship win. The celebratory atmosphere turned to “terror”, it was said, when the driver entered the crowd as he attempted to pick up a friend from the parade route.

“Witnesses thought that the events unfolding was a terrorist attack.”

Rampage Halted by Heroic Act

With injured people on the street, Doyle’s rampage was brought to a halt by an ex-army member, a man identified in court, who entered the back of the car and forced the gearstick into park. Even then, Doyle continued pressing the gas pedal, the court heard.

During questioning, the defendant stated he reacted in a “blind panic” due to a fear for his safety. Yet, the prosecution argued that the video showed Doyle “simply lost control in his determination to reach his destination”. It was further stated: “In a rage, he drove into the crowd and as he did so he intended to cause them serious harm.”

Reckless Behavior Before the Attack

The video showed Doyle was driving recklessly before he reached the city centre, undertaking cars at speed and running red lights. He disregarded traffic diversion measures and weaved around other cars, including an ambulance and police cars, as he approached the packed streets.

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