Man Who Ploughed Into LFC Parade Was ‘In a Rage’, Court Told.
An ex- Royal Marine was a “man in a rage” as he drove into scores of LFC supporters during a championship celebration, an incident many initially feared to be a terrorist attack, a court has heard.
“The video is truly shocking.”
Those injured of Paul Doyle cried while dashcam footage showed people being thrown into the air while he sped towards the gathering while screaming: “Fucking hell, move!”
The 54-year-old defendant will learn his fate on Tuesday following his guilty plea at the start of his trial last month to 31 criminal charges involving 29 victims, including eight minors.
‘Consumed by Anger’
Prosecutors warned those in court that the video evidence from the defendant’s two-tonne Ford Galaxy proved to be “truly shocking”. The recording revealed the father of three shouting “fucking pricks” and “fucking move” 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 continued driving into the mass of people, speeding up while individuals were struck by his vehicle.
Extent of the Injuries
In total, the ex-marine injured 134 people within a mere seven-minute span – including more than 50 who needed hospital treatment. An infant was “miraculously” unharmed despite being left splayed on the road after the vehicle struck his stroller, according to testimony.
A supporter, a man named in court, was shown being thrown into the air by the car, suffering a cut to the back of his head, broken ribs and multiple abrasions.
Doyle could be heard shouting “fuck’s sake move! Get out my fucking way!” prior to driving deeper into panicked fans, including an elderly woman and children who were dragged under the car.
Celebration Descends into Chaos
Addressing a packed courtroom, the prosecution 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 turned to “horror”, the prosecutor said, when the driver entered the crowd while trying to collect a companion who had been at the parade.
“Witnesses believed the events unfolding was a terrorist attack.”
Rampage Halted by Heroic Act
As bodies lay on the ground, Doyle’s rampage was brought to a halt by an ex-army member, Dan Barr, who entered the back of the car and held the car’s gear selector in “park”. Despite this, Doyle kept his foot on the accelerator, the court heard.
In his police interview, the defendant claimed he acted in a “blind panic” because he feared for his life. Yet, the prosecution argued that the video showed the defendant “simply lost control in his determination to reach his destination”. The prosecutor added: “In a rage, he drove into the crowd and in doing so his intent was to cause serious injury.”
Dangerous Driving Prior to Incident
The video showed Doyle had been driving dangerously prior to entering downtown, overtaking cars dangerously and running red lights. He ignored road closures and weaved around other vehicles, even emergency service vehicles, as he approached the packed streets.
The defendant is expected to receive a jail term of more than 10 years at his sentencing hearing.
