Driver Who Ploughed Into LFC Victory Parade Was ‘Consumed by Rage’, Trial Hears.
A former Royal Marines Commando was a “person consumed by fury” as he drove into scores of LFC supporters during a victory parade, an incident many initially feared to be a terrorist attack, a court has heard.
“The video is profoundly upsetting.”
Those injured in the incident cried as dashcam footage depicted people being thrown into the air as he accelerated into crowds while screaming: “Get out of the way!”
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 the court that the video evidence from Doyle’s large people carrier proved to be “extremely graphic”. The recording revealed the father of three shouting “expletives” as well as “fucking move” while he headed straight for hundreds of fans, with people frantically dragging children to safety as his car horn blared.
The court was told that Doyle was a “individual whose anger had completely overpowered him” as he continued driving into the mass of people, accelerating while individuals were struck by his vehicle.
Scale of the Carnage
Overall, the former Royal Marine injured 134 individuals within a mere seven-minute span – including more than 50 requiring hospital care. An infant was “miraculously” 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 seen being launched into the air by the vehicle, sustaining a laceration on his head, broken ribs and multiple abrasions.
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 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” marking the football club’s championship win. Scenes of jubilation turned to “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 thought that the events unfolding constituted a terrorist incident.”
Rampage Halted by Heroic Act
As bodies lay on the ground, the vehicle’s path was stopped by an ex-army member, a man identified in court, 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 stated he acted in a “blind panic” due to a fear for his safety. Yet, prosecutors contended that the video demonstrated Doyle “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 as he did so he intended to cause them serious harm.”
Reckless Behavior Before the Attack
The video indicated Doyle had been driving dangerously prior to entering downtown, undertaking cars at speed and jumping red lights. He disregarded road closures and weaved around other cars, including an ambulance and police cars, as he approached the packed streets.
Doyle is understood to be facing a jail term of over a decade at his sentencing hearing.
