Driver Who Ploughed Into LFC Victory Parade Described as ‘Consumed by Rage’, Court Hears.

A former Royal Marine acted as a “man in a rage” as he mowed down scores of LFC fans during a championship celebration, in what many feared was a terrorist attack, according to court proceedings.

“The video is truly shocking.”

Those injured of Paul Doyle cried while video from the car’s camera depicted people being thrown into the air as he accelerated into crowds while screaming: “Get out of the way!”

The 54-year-old defendant will learn his fate 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’

Prosecutors stated those in court that the footage from the defendant’s large people carrier was “truly shocking”. It showed the parent yelling “fucking pricks” and “move out of the way” as he drove towards hundreds of fans, with people frantically dragging children to safety as he blasted the horn.

The court was told that Doyle acted as a “individual whose anger had completely overpowered him” as he ploughed further into the crowd, speeding up as people collided with his car.

Scale of the Carnage

Overall, the former Royal Marine hurt 134 people within a mere seven-minute span – including more than 50 who needed hospital treatment. 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.

A supporter, a man named in court, was shown being thrown into the air by the vehicle, sustaining a laceration to the back of his head, broken ribs and multiple abrasions.

The defendant was heard screaming “for God’s sake move! Get out of my path!” before ploughing further into panicked fans, among them an older woman and young children who became trapped beneath the vehicle.

Celebration Descends into Chaos

Speaking to a full court, the prosecution said approximately a million individuals were present at “an event they believed to be a day of joyfulness” marking the football club’s championship win. The celebratory atmosphere turned to “terror”, the prosecutor said, as Doyle drove into oncoming fans as he attempted to pick up a friend who had been at the parade.

“Some at the scene thought that the events unfolding was a terrorist attack.”

Brave Intervention Stops Driver

With injured people on the street, Doyle’s rampage was stopped by a former soldier, Dan Barr, who climbed into a rear passenger seat and forced the gearstick into park. Despite this, Doyle kept his foot on the accelerator, according to evidence.

During questioning, Doyle claimed he reacted in a “blind panic” due to a fear for his safety. However, the prosecution argued that the dashcam footage showed Doyle “just lost his temper in his determination to reach his destination”. It was further stated: “In a rage, he drove into the crowd and as he did so his intent was to cause serious injury.”

Dangerous Driving Prior to Incident

Footage showed Doyle had been driving dangerously prior to entering downtown, undertaking cars at speed and running 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 jail term of more than 10 years at his sentencing hearing.

Deborah Rogers
Deborah Rogers

A productivity coach and writer with over a decade of experience helping professionals optimize their workflows and achieve their goals.