Shocking dashcam footage from a terror attack on a Liverpool victory parade has been described by a senior detective as the most distressing he has ever witnessed in two decades of police service.
Seven Minutes of Terror on Merseyside
On May 26, 54-year-old Paul Doyle deliberately drove his Ford Galaxy into crowds celebrating in Liverpool city centre. His seven-minute rampage, which he later admitted was carried out "in a rage", left 134 people injured, including children.
This week, Doyle was sentenced to 21 years and six months in prison at Liverpool Crown Court. The court heard harrowing details from footage deemed too graphic for public release, which showed Doyle accelerating into groups of fans repeatedly over a distance of around 50 metres.
'Truly Shocking' Footage Described in Court
Sentencing Doyle, Judge Andrew Menary KC addressed the "truly shocking" video. "It is difficult, if not impossible, to convey in words alone the scene of devastation you caused," he said.
"It shows you, quite deliberately, accelerating into groups of fans time and time again. You struck people head-on, knocked others onto the bonnet, drove over limbs, crushed prams and forced those nearby to scatter in terror."
The judge detailed how Doyle ploughed on at speed, "violently knocking people aside or simply driving over them – person, after person, after person." He described how Doyle accelerated forwards and backwards, trapping victims beneath the vehicle while others were thrown into the air.
Detective's Harrowing Account and a Hero's Intervention
Detective Chief Inspector John Fitzgerald, the senior investigating officer, told of the impact the footage had on his team. "In my 20 years of police service this is the most distressing and graphic footage that I have come across," he said.
"It was really difficult to watch for me and the whole of the investigation team, but it was really important that we did because we had to tell the story of each individual victim as to what had gone on."
The attack was ultimately stopped by hero football fan Daniel Barr, a former Royal Engineer. Barr recounted crawling into the moving car as it sped through the crowd. He found Doyle surprisingly calm inside the vehicle, repeating phrases like "why won't they move out my way?".
Prosecutor Paul Greaney KC told the court that Doyle, a former Marine, had acted out of "impatience and arrogance", regarding himself as the most important person on the street. Distressing audio from the dashcam captured Doyle honking his horn and shouting expletives at pedestrians.
One particularly devastating moment showed Doyle shouting "f****** hell, move" as he struck a 10-year-old girl, who was later described as "extremely fortunate" to escape with minor injuries.
Judge Menary concluded that Doyle had "lost his temper" and tried to force his way through the crowds "regardless of the consequences", intending to cause serious harm. The psychological and physical trauma inflicted on the 134 victims continues to this day.
