Driver That Ploughed Into Liverpool FC Victory Parade Described as ‘Consumed by Rage’, Trial Hears.
An ex- Royal Marine acted as a “man in a rage” when he drove into dozens of LFC fans during a victory parade, in what many feared was a terrorist attack, according to court proceedings.
“The video is deeply disturbing.”
Victims in the incident cried while dashcam footage depicted bodies spinning through the air while he sped towards the gathering while screaming: “Fucking hell, move!”
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 criminal charges involving 21 adults and eight children.
‘A Man in a Rage’
The prosecution warned the court that the footage from the defendant’s two-tonne Ford Galaxy was “extremely graphic”. It showed the father of three yelling “expletives” as well as “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 was a “individual whose anger had completely overpowered 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 requiring hospital care. A six-month-old boy was “miraculously” uninjured even though he was left on the roadway after the vehicle struck his stroller, according to testimony.
One fan, Simon Nash, was shown being thrown into the air by the car, suffering a laceration on his head, rib fractures and multiple abrasions.
The defendant could be heard shouting “for God’s sake move! Get out my fucking way!” before ploughing further into panicked fans, including an elderly woman and children who became trapped beneath the vehicle.
Celebration Descends into Chaos
Addressing a packed courtroom, lawyers said approximately a million individuals had attended “an event they believed to be a joyous occasion” marking Liverpool winning their 20th league title. Scenes of jubilation turned to “horror”, it was said, as Doyle drove into oncoming fans as he attempted to pick up a friend 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 a former soldier, a man identified in court, 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.
In his police interview, Doyle stated he acted in a “blind panic” due to a fear for his safety. Yet, 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 as he did so his intent was to cause serious injury.”
Reckless Behavior Before the Attack
The video showed the driver was driving recklessly before he reached the city centre, undertaking cars at speed and jumping red lights. He disregarded road closures and weaved around other vehicles, even emergency service vehicles, as he entered the crowds.
Doyle is expected to receive a jail term of over a decade at his sentencing hearing.
