Man Who Drove Through LFC Parade Described as ‘Consumed by Rage’, Trial Hears.
A former Royal Marines Commando acted as a “man in a rage” when he mowed down scores of Liverpool football club fans at a victory parade, an incident many initially feared to be a act of terrorism, according to court proceedings.
“The footage is deeply disturbing.”
Victims of Paul Doyle cried while video from the car’s camera showed people being thrown into the air while he sped towards the gathering while screaming: “Fucking hell, move!”
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.
‘A Man in a Rage’
Prosecutors stated those in court that the video evidence from Doyle’s large people carrier proved to be “extremely graphic”. It showed the father of three yelling “fucking pricks” and “fucking move” while he headed straight for a large crowd of supporters, some pulling children out of the way as he blasted the horn.
It was stated in court that Doyle was a “man in a rage whose anger had completely taken hold of him” as he continued driving into the mass of people, speeding up as people collided with his car.
Scale of the Carnage
Overall, the former Royal Marine hurt 134 people within a mere seven-minute span – including more than 50 who needed hospital treatment. A six-month-old boy 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 cut to the back of his head, broken ribs and numerous scrapes.
Doyle was heard screaming “fuck’s sake move! Get out of my path!” before ploughing further into screaming supporters, among them an older woman and young children who became trapped beneath the vehicle.
Celebration Descends into Chaos
Addressing a packed courtroom, lawyers said about 1 million people were present at “what they thought would be a day of joyfulness” to celebrate Liverpool winning their 20th league title. The celebratory atmosphere swiftly became “horror”, the prosecutor said, as Doyle drove into oncoming fans while trying to collect a companion from the parade route.
“Witnesses believed what was taking place 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, Dan Barr, who climbed into a rear passenger seat and forced the gearstick into park. Even then, Doyle kept his foot on the accelerator, according to evidence.
During questioning, the defendant stated he reacted in a “state of sheer panic” due to a fear for his safety. Yet, the prosecution argued that the video showed the defendant “simply lost control in his determination to reach his destination”. It was further stated: “In a rage, he drove into the crowd and in doing so his intent was to cause serious injury.”
Dangerous Driving Prior to Incident
The video showed Doyle was driving recklessly before he reached the city centre, overtaking cars dangerously and jumping red lights. He disregarded road closures and weaved around other vehicles, including an ambulance and police cars, as he approached the packed streets.
The defendant is expected to receive a prison sentence of over a decade when he is sentenced on Tuesday.
