Driver Who Ploughed Through LFC Victory Parade Described as ‘In a Rage’, Court Told.
A former Royal Marine acted as a “person consumed by fury” when he drove into scores of Liverpool football club supporters during a championship celebration, an incident many initially feared to be a terrorist attack, according to court proceedings.
“The video is deeply disturbing.”
Those injured of Paul Doyle cried as video from the car’s camera depicted bodies spinning through the air as he accelerated into crowds while screaming: “Get out of the way!”
The 54-year-old defendant is due to be sentenced on Tuesday after pleading guilty 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 those in court that the video evidence from Doyle’s large people carrier was “truly shocking”. It showed the father of three shouting “expletives” and “fucking move” as he drove towards a large crowd of supporters, some pulling children out of the way as he blasted the horn.
The court was told that Doyle acted as a “man in a rage whose anger had completely taken hold of him” as he ploughed further into the crowd, accelerating while individuals were struck by his vehicle.
Scale of the Carnage
Overall, the former Royal Marine hurt 134 individuals within a mere seven-minute span – with over fifty who needed hospital treatment. An infant was “remarkably” uninjured even though he was left on the roadway after the vehicle struck his stroller, the court heard.
A supporter, a man named in court, was shown being thrown into the air by the car, suffering a laceration on his head, rib fractures and numerous scrapes.
The defendant could be heard shouting “fuck’s sake move! Get out my fucking way!” prior to driving deeper into screaming supporters, among them an older woman and young children who became trapped beneath the vehicle.
Scene of Jubilation Turns to Horror
Addressing a packed courtroom, lawyers said about 1 million people were present at “an event they believed to be a joyous occasion” marking the football club’s championship win. Scenes of jubilation turned to “terror”, the prosecutor said, as Doyle drove into oncoming fans while trying to collect a companion from the parade route.
“Witnesses believed the events unfolding was a terrorist attack.”
Rampage Halted by Heroic Act
With injured people on the street, the vehicle’s path was brought to a halt by an ex-army member, a man identified in court, who entered the back of the car and forced the gearstick into park. Even then, Doyle continued pressing the gas pedal, according to evidence.
In his police interview, the defendant stated he reacted in a “state of sheer panic” because he feared for his life. Yet, prosecutors contended that the video demonstrated Doyle “simply lost control in his desire to get to where he wanted to get to”. It was further stated: “Consumed by anger, he targeted the crowd and in doing so he intended to cause them serious harm.”
Reckless Behavior Before the Attack
The video showed Doyle had been driving dangerously prior to entering downtown, overtaking cars dangerously and jumping red lights. He ignored road closures and weaved around other cars, even emergency service vehicles, as he approached the packed streets.
Doyle is expected to receive a jail term of more than 10 years when he is sentenced on Tuesday.
