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A former Royal Marine was a “person consumed by fury” as he mowed down scores of LFC fans at a championship celebration, in what many feared was a act of terrorism, a court has heard.

“The footage was profoundly upsetting.”

Victims of Paul Doyle cried while video from the car’s camera showed bodies spinning through the air while he sped towards the gathering and shouted: “Get out of the way!”

The 54-year-old defendant will learn his fate on Tuesday after pleading guilty on the first day of his trial last month to 31 offences against 29 victims, including eight minors.

‘A Man in a Rage’

Prosecutors stated the court that the footage from the defendant’s two-tonne Ford Galaxy was “extremely graphic”. It showed the father of three yelling “fucking pricks” and “move out of the way” while he headed straight for hundreds of fans, with people frantically dragging children to safety as he blasted the horn.

The court was told that Doyle was a “man in a rage whose anger had completely taken hold of him” as he ploughed further into the crowd, accelerating while individuals were struck by his vehicle.

Extent of the Injuries

Overall, the former Royal Marine hurt 134 people within a mere seven-minute span – including more than 50 requiring hospital care. An infant was “miraculously” uninjured despite being left splayed on the road when Doyle’s car hit his pram, according to testimony.

One fan, Simon Nash, was seen being launched into the air by the car, sustaining a laceration on his head, rib fractures and multiple abrasions.

Doyle could be heard shouting “for God’s sake move! Get out my fucking way!” before ploughing further into screaming supporters, 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” to celebrate 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 believed the events unfolding constituted a terrorist incident.”

Rampage Halted by Heroic Act

With injured people on the street, 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, the court heard.

In his police interview, the defendant stated he reacted in a “state of sheer panic” due to a fear for his safety. Yet, prosecutors contended that the dashcam footage demonstrated the defendant “simply lost control in his determination to reach his destination”. The prosecutor added: “In a rage, he drove into the crowd and in doing so his intent was to cause serious injury.”

Reckless Behavior Before the Attack

Footage indicated Doyle was driving recklessly prior to entering downtown, undertaking cars at speed and running red lights. He disregarded traffic diversion measures and weaved around other cars, even emergency service vehicles, as he approached the packed streets.

Doyle is understood to be facing a jail term of over a decade when he is sentenced on Tuesday.