Man That Ploughed Through LFC Victory Parade Described as ‘In a Rage’, Trial Hears.
An ex- Royal Marines Commando was a “person consumed by fury” when he drove into scores of LFC fans at a championship celebration, in what many feared was a terrorist attack, a court has heard.
“The footage is truly shocking.”
Victims in the incident cried while dashcam footage showed people being thrown into the air while he sped towards the gathering and shouted: “Get out of the way!”
Doyle, 54, is due to be sentenced on Tuesday after pleading guilty at the start of his trial last month to 31 offences involving 29 victims, including eight minors.
‘A Man in a Rage’
The prosecution stated the court that the footage from the defendant’s large people carrier was “extremely graphic”. It showed the father of three yelling “fucking pricks” as well as “fucking move” while he headed straight for a large crowd of supporters, 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 whose anger had completely taken hold of him” as he ploughed further into the crowd, accelerating as people collided with his car.
Extent of the Injuries
Overall, the former Royal Marine injured 134 individuals in just seven minutes – including more than 50 who needed hospital treatment. An infant was “remarkably” unharmed despite being left splayed on the road when Doyle’s car hit his pram, the court heard.
A supporter, Simon Nash, was shown being thrown into the air by the car, suffering a cut on his head, rib fractures and numerous scrapes.
The defendant was heard screaming “fuck’s sake move! Get out my fucking way!” before ploughing further into screaming supporters, including an elderly woman and children who became trapped beneath the vehicle.
Scene of Jubilation Turns to Horror
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 “horror”, the prosecutor said, when the driver entered the crowd as he attempted to pick up a friend who had been at the parade.
“Some at the scene believed what was taking place constituted a terrorist incident.”
Rampage Halted by Heroic Act
With injured people on the street, the vehicle’s path was stopped by a former soldier, a man identified in court, who climbed into a rear passenger seat and held the car’s gear selector in “park”. Even then, Doyle continued pressing the gas pedal, the court heard.
In his police interview, the defendant stated he acted in a “blind panic” due to a fear for his safety. Yet, the prosecution argued that the dashcam footage showed the defendant “just lost his temper 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.”
Dangerous Driving Prior to Incident
Footage showed Doyle was driving recklessly prior to entering downtown, overtaking cars dangerously and jumping red lights. He ignored road closures and bypassed other vehicles, even emergency service vehicles, as he entered the crowds.
The defendant is expected to receive a prison sentence of over a decade at his sentencing hearing.
