Man That Drove Into Liverpool FC Victory Parade Was ‘In a Rage’, Court Told.
An ex- Royal Marines Commando was a “person consumed by fury” when he drove into scores of Liverpool football club supporters at a victory parade, in what many feared was a act of terrorism, a court has heard.
“The video was deeply disturbing.”
Victims in the incident wept while video from the car’s camera showed people being thrown into the air as he accelerated into crowds while screaming: “Fucking hell, move!”
Doyle, 54, will learn his fate 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’
Prosecutors stated those in court that the video evidence from Doyle’s two-tonne Ford Galaxy was “extremely graphic”. It showed the parent shouting “expletives” and “move out of the way” while he headed straight for hundreds of fans, some pulling children out of the way as he blasted the horn.
It was stated in court that Doyle was a “man in a rage whose anger had completely taken hold of him” as he ploughed further into the crowd, accelerating as people collided with his car.
Scale of the Carnage
In total, the ex-marine hurt 134 people within a mere seven-minute span – including more than 50 requiring hospital care. A six-month-old boy was “remarkably” unharmed even though he was left on the roadway when Doyle’s car hit his pram, the court heard.
One fan, a man named in court, was shown being thrown into the air by the vehicle, suffering a cut to the back of his head, broken ribs and numerous scrapes.
Doyle could be heard shouting “fuck’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
Speaking to a full court, lawyers said approximately a million individuals were present at “what they thought would be a day of joyfulness” to celebrate the football club’s championship win. Scenes of jubilation swiftly became “terror”, the prosecutor said, as Doyle drove into oncoming fans while trying to collect a companion from the parade route.
“Witnesses thought that the events unfolding constituted a terrorist incident.”
Brave Intervention Stops Driver
As bodies lay on the ground, the vehicle’s path was brought to a halt by a former soldier, Dan Barr, who climbed into a rear passenger seat and held the car’s gear selector in “park”. Even then, Doyle continued pressing the gas pedal, according to evidence.
During questioning, Doyle claimed he reacted in a “state of sheer panic” due to a fear for his safety. However, prosecutors contended that the dashcam footage demonstrated the defendant “just lost his temper in his determination to reach his destination”. It was further stated: “Consumed by anger, he targeted the crowd and as he did so his intent was to cause serious injury.”
Reckless Behavior Before the Attack
Footage indicated the driver had been driving dangerously prior to entering downtown, undertaking cars at speed and jumping red lights. He disregarded traffic diversion measures and weaved around other vehicles, even emergency service vehicles, as he entered the crowds.
Doyle is expected to receive a prison sentence of over a decade at his sentencing hearing.
