Former Royal Marine Paul Doyle was sentenced to 21 years and six months in jail for a "truly shocking" act that caused "horror and devastation on a scale not previously experienced by this court." On May 26, 2024, Doyle, 54, deliberately drove his two-tonne vehicle into hundreds of Liverpool FC supporters celebrating a victory parade in the city. Dashcam footage played in court captured Doyle screaming angrily, "Get out the fucking way! Get out the way! Move, move, move!" as he ploughed through the crowd, hitting 134 victims, including a six-month-old boy whose pushchair was thrown into the air. The judge, Andrew Menary KC, described Doyle’s actions as an "inexplicable and undiluted fury," directly contradicting his claim of acting in "blind panic" or fear for his life.

The court heard that Doyle, despite being described as a mild-mannered "family man," had a long history of explosive violent outbursts preceding the parade. Those who served with him in the Royal Marines in the early 1990s recalled him as an "absolute live wire" with a "horrendous flash to bang," meaning he quickly escalated from annoyance to physical violence. He amassed a series of previous convictions for serious violence, dishonesty, and criminal damage dating back to the early 90s. Notably, he was jailed for a year in 1994 for biting off a sailor's ear in a pub brawl in July 1993. Doyle had joined the Royal Marines in March 1991 but was discharged in January 1993 after just 22 months due to a string of offences, including violence towards a senior officer and general ill-discipline. Fellow service personnel remembered him as an "outcast" for his short temper and propensity to get into fights, often with "zero escalation."

Despite his troubled early adulthood, prosecutor Paul Greaney KC stated that in the 30 years following his release from prison in May 1995, Doyle had "taken steps to lead a positive and productive life," with no further convictions. He went to university, worked in positions of responsibility, including for an NHS trust and a large UK wealth management firm, and ran two companies. Doyle, an Everton fan, lived with his wife and three sons in a detached home in Croxteth, near Liverpool. However, this period of rehabilitation unravelled in just seven minutes on May 26, 2024, when he "snapped" and used his car "as a weapon." Many in the crowd initially feared a terrorist attack, a possibility quickly ruled out by DCI John Fitzgerald and his team. Emergency services, including St John’s Ambulance commander Simon Galley, watched the horror unfold on CCTV, calling it a "miracle" that no lives were lost given the scale of the mass-casualty incident.

Over two days at Liverpool Crown Court, 78 victims testified about their life-changing physical and psychological injuries. Testimonies included accounts of children suffering nightmares, anxiety, and the loss of their former energy and joy. Many victims reported being "haunted" by the "spine-chilling" sights and sounds, leading to a fear of crowded places and reluctance to return to Liverpool city centre. A mother described the "terrifying image of my pram being struck and being taken by the car," with the horror of not knowing if her seven-month-old son was alive leaving a lasting trauma. Francesca Massey, a survivor of the 2017 Manchester Arena attack, testified that the parade incident "reopened emotional wounds" and reawakened previous trauma, demonstrating the profound psychological impact.

Doyle pleaded guilty to 31 charges, including dangerous driving, affray, and 29 GBH-related offences against 21 adults and eight children. Judge Menary firmly rejected Doyle's defense claim of "blind panic," asserting that the dashcam footage, which caused gasps and tears in court, clearly showed "an inexplicable and undiluted fury" and a "total disregard for the safety of others," especially the many young children present. The judge remarked that Doyle's "disregard for human life defies ordinary understanding" and it was "almost impossible to comprehend how any right thinking person could act as you did." Doyle’s rampage was eventually halted by former soldier Dan Barr, who climbed into the car and held the gear selector in "park." While Doyle's defense counsel stated he was "horrified by what he did" and expressed remorse, the judge concluded that the offending warranted one of the severest sentences, leaving a "lasting legacy of fear, injury and loss across this community."