Man That Drove Into LFC Victory Parade Was ‘In a Rage’, Trial Told.
A former Royal Marine acted as a “person consumed by fury” when he drove into dozens of Liverpool football club supporters during a victory parade, in what many feared was a terrorist attack, a court has heard.
“The footage is truly shocking.”
Those injured in the incident wept while video from the car’s camera depicted bodies spinning through 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 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 video evidence from the defendant’s two-tonne Ford Galaxy was “truly shocking”. The recording revealed the parent yelling “fucking pricks” as well as “fucking move” as he drove towards hundreds of fans, with people frantically dragging children to safety as he blasted the horn.
It was stated in court that Doyle acted as a “individual whose anger had completely overpowered him” as he continued driving into the mass of people, speeding up as people collided with his car.
Extent of the Injuries
Overall, the ex-marine injured 134 people in just seven minutes – including more than 50 who needed hospital treatment. An infant was “remarkably” unharmed even though he was left on the roadway when Doyle’s car hit his pram, according to testimony.
One fan, Simon Nash, was shown being thrown into the air by the car, suffering a laceration to the back of his head, rib fractures and multiple abrasions.
Doyle could be heard shouting “for God’s sake move! Get out of my path!” prior to driving deeper into screaming supporters, among them an older woman and young children who became trapped beneath the vehicle.
Celebration Descends into Chaos
Speaking to a full court, lawyers said approximately a million individuals had attended “what they thought would be a joyous occasion” marking the football club’s championship win. Scenes of jubilation 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 constituted a terrorist incident.”
Rampage Halted by Heroic Act
With injured people on the street, Doyle’s rampage was stopped by a former soldier, a man identified in court, who climbed into a rear passenger seat 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” due to a fear for his safety. However, the prosecution argued that the dashcam footage demonstrated Doyle “just lost his temper in his determination to reach his destination”. The prosecutor added: “Consumed by anger, he drove into the crowd and as he did so his intent was to cause serious injury.”
Reckless Behavior Before the Attack
The video showed the driver had been driving dangerously before he reached the city centre, overtaking cars dangerously 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 expected to receive a jail term of over a decade at his sentencing hearing.
