Paul Doyle’s ‘face of rage’ caught in cellular footage as our bodies bounced off automobile
Paul Doyle put his head in his hands and began to cry as video of his car striking members of the public was played during his sentencing hearing at Liverpool Crown Court
Footage of the moments Paul Doyle drove into members of the Liverpool parade crowd was shown to the court from a number of different cameras and angles.
Paul Greaney KC, prosecuting, said Doyle could be heard shouting “get off the f****** road, you f****** p****” as he drove into fans celebrating Liverpool’s victory parade.
Mr Greaney said: “He was, the prosecution says, a man out of control.” He said Doyle put his car into reverse after remaining stationary for a short period on Dale Street, and move back sharply into the crowd behind, causing one member of the public to punch the vehicle and another to kick it.
Mr Greaney said: “He then pulled forwards before reversing sharply again into the man that was kicking the vehicle. He was using the Galaxy as a weapon.”
He said someone opened the driver’s door and a clear plastic cup was thrown, but Doyle was able to pull the door closed and then began to move forwards into the “dense” crowd.
Someone punched through the back window and a camping chair was thrown in, the court heard. Mr Greaney said: “It is obvious that the crowd sensed that something dreadful was unfolding.”
The court heard Doyle suggested in interview that alcohol was thrown into his eyes, but that was not borne out by the footage.
Mr Greaney said: “Pedestrians immediately reacted to the defendant’s actions, driving into that crowd, with terror. All of that Paul Doyle was able to see but he ignored it and ploughed on.”
Mobile phone footage captured by pedestrians from various angles shows the distress and panic caused by the attack. Where Doyle can be seen in the drivers’ seat, the prosecution says it shows “the face of a man in a rage”.
Another piece of mobile phone footage shows the moment Doyle reversed aggressively before ignoring traffic measures and ploughing into crowds.
Doyle put his head in his hands and began to cry again as video of his car striking members of the public was played.
In a 15-second clip of mobile phone footage which was shown to the court, Doyle’s face could be seen.
Mr Greaney said: “The prosecution case is what we are seeing there is a man in a rage, whose anger had completely taken hold of him.”
Doyle has admitted 31 offences relating to the crash including dangerous driving, affray, 17 charges of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent, nine counts of causing GBH with intent, and three counts of wounding with intent at Liverpool Crown Court.
The sentencing is expected to continue until Tuesday.
For live updates on Paul Doyle’s sentencing hearing, read our live blog.
