Man That Ploughed Into LFC Parade Described as ‘In a Rage’, Court Told.
A former Royal Marine was a “man in a rage” as he mowed down scores of Liverpool football club fans during a victory parade, in what many feared was a act of terrorism, a court has heard.
“The footage is deeply disturbing.”
Those injured of Paul Doyle wept while dashcam footage showed people being thrown into 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 following his guilty plea at the start of his trial last month to 31 criminal charges against 21 adults and eight children.
‘Consumed by Anger’
Prosecutors warned those in court that the video evidence from the defendant’s two-tonne Ford Galaxy was “extremely graphic”. It showed the father of three shouting “fucking pricks” and “move out of the way” as he drove towards a large crowd of supporters, with people frantically dragging children to safety as his car horn blared.
The court was told that Doyle was a “individual whose anger whose anger had completely taken hold of him” as he ploughed further into the crowd, speeding up while individuals were struck by his vehicle.
Scale of the Carnage
In total, the former Royal Marine hurt 134 people in just seven minutes – including more than 50 requiring hospital care. An infant was “miraculously” unharmed even though he was left on the roadway when Doyle’s car hit his pram, the court heard.
One fan, Simon Nash, was seen being launched into the air by the car, sustaining a laceration to the back of his head, rib fractures and numerous scrapes.
Doyle could be heard shouting “fuck’s sake move! Get out my fucking way!” before ploughing further into panicked fans, 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 “what they thought would be a joyous occasion” to celebrate Liverpool winning their 20th league title. Scenes of jubilation turned to “horror”, it was said, when the driver entered the crowd while trying to collect a companion who had been at the parade.
“Some at the scene thought that the events unfolding constituted a terrorist incident.”
Brave Intervention Stops Driver
As bodies lay on the ground, Doyle’s rampage was stopped by an ex-army member, Dan Barr, who entered the back of the car 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. However, the prosecution argued that the dashcam footage demonstrated Doyle “simply lost control in his determination to reach his destination”. The prosecutor added: “Consumed by anger, he targeted 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 prior to entering downtown, undertaking cars at speed and jumping red lights. He disregarded traffic diversion measures and weaved around other cars, even emergency service vehicles, as he approached the packed streets.
The defendant is understood to be facing a prison sentence of more than 10 years when he is sentenced on Tuesday.
