Man That Drove Into Liverpool FC Parade Was ‘In a Rage’, Trial Told.
An ex- Royal Marines Commando acted as a “man in a rage” as he drove into scores of Liverpool football club fans during a championship celebration, an incident many initially feared to be a terrorist attack, a court has heard.
“The footage is truly shocking.”
Victims in the incident wept as video from the car’s camera showed people being thrown into the air as he accelerated into crowds while screaming: “Get out of the way!”
Doyle, 54, is due to be sentenced on Tuesday after pleading guilty on the first day of his trial last month to 31 offences against 21 adults and eight children.
‘Consumed by Anger’
The prosecution warned those in court that the video evidence from Doyle’s two-tonne Ford Galaxy proved to be “truly shocking”. It showed the parent yelling “expletives” as well as “fucking move” while he headed straight for hundreds of fans, some pulling children out of the way 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 as people collided with his car.
Extent of the Injuries
Overall, the former Royal Marine hurt 134 individuals in just seven minutes – including more than 50 who needed hospital treatment. A six-month-old boy was “remarkably” unharmed 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 car, sustaining a cut on his head, rib fractures and multiple abrasions.
Doyle was heard screaming “for God’s sake move! Get out my fucking way!” before ploughing further 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 “an event they believed to be a joyous occasion” to celebrate the football club’s championship win. The celebratory atmosphere swiftly became “terror”, the prosecutor said, when the driver entered the crowd as he attempted to pick up a friend who had been at the parade.
“Witnesses thought that what was taking place constituted a terrorist incident.”
Rampage Halted by Heroic Act
With injured people on the street, Doyle’s rampage was brought to a halt by an ex-army member, Dan Barr, who entered the back of the car and forced the gearstick into park. Despite this, Doyle kept his foot on the accelerator, the court heard.
During questioning, the defendant stated he acted in a “state of sheer panic” because he feared for his life. However, prosecutors contended that the video demonstrated Doyle “simply lost control in his determination to reach his destination”. The prosecutor added: “In a rage, he targeted the crowd and as he did so his intent was to cause serious injury.”
Reckless Behavior Before the Attack
The video indicated the driver was driving recklessly before he reached the city centre, overtaking cars dangerously and jumping red lights. He ignored road closures and bypassed other vehicles, including an ambulance and police cars, as he approached the packed streets.
The defendant is understood to be facing a prison sentence of over a decade when he is sentenced on Tuesday.
