Driver That Drove Into LFC Parade Described as ‘In a Rage’, Trial Hears.
A former Royal Marines Commando acted as a “person consumed by fury” as he drove into scores of Liverpool football club supporters during a championship celebration, an incident many initially feared to be a act of terrorism, a court has heard.
“The video is deeply disturbing.”
Those injured of Paul Doyle wept as dashcam footage showed bodies spinning through the air as he accelerated into crowds and shouted: “Fucking hell, move!”
The 54-year-old defendant is due to be sentenced on Tuesday following his guilty plea at the start of his trial last month to 31 offences involving 21 adults and eight children.
‘A Man in a Rage’
The prosecution warned the court that the footage from the defendant’s large people carrier was “truly shocking”. The recording revealed the father of three yelling “fucking pricks” and “fucking move” as he drove towards hundreds of fans, some pulling children out of the way as his car horn blared.
It was stated in court that Doyle acted as a “individual whose anger had completely overpowered him” as he ploughed further into the crowd, accelerating as people collided with his car.
Scale of the Carnage
In total, the ex-marine hurt 134 people within a mere seven-minute span – with over fifty requiring hospital care. 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 shown being thrown into the air by the vehicle, sustaining a laceration to the back of his head, broken ribs and multiple abrasions.
Doyle could be heard shouting “fuck’s sake move! Get out of my path!” prior to driving deeper into panicked fans, among them an older woman and young children who were dragged under the car.
Celebration Descends into Chaos
Addressing a packed courtroom, lawyers said about 1 million people had attended “what they thought would be a joyous occasion” to celebrate Liverpool winning their 20th league title. Scenes of jubilation swiftly became “terror”, the prosecutor said, when the driver entered the crowd as he attempted to pick up a friend from the parade route.
“Some at the scene believed what was taking place was a terrorist attack.”
Brave Intervention Stops Driver
As bodies lay on the ground, Doyle’s rampage was brought to a halt by an ex-army member, a man identified in court, who entered the back of the car and held the car’s gear selector in “park”. Even then, Doyle kept his foot on the accelerator, according to evidence.
During questioning, the defendant claimed he acted in a “state of sheer panic” due to a fear for his safety. Yet, prosecutors contended that the dashcam footage demonstrated the defendant “simply lost control in his desire to get to where he wanted to get to”. The prosecutor added: “Consumed by anger, he drove into the crowd and in doing so he intended to cause them serious harm.”
Reckless Behavior Before the Attack
Footage indicated the driver had been driving dangerously before he reached the city centre, undertaking cars at speed and running red lights. He disregarded traffic diversion measures and bypassed other cars, even emergency service vehicles, as he approached the packed streets.
Doyle is expected to receive a jail term of over a decade when he is sentenced on Tuesday.
