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

A former Royal Marine acted as a “person consumed by fury” as he drove into dozens of Liverpool football club fans at a victory parade, in what many feared was a terrorist attack, according to court proceedings.

Victims of Paul Doyle wept as video from the car’s camera showed bodies spinning through the air while he sped towards the gathering while screaming: “Get out of the way!”

The 54-year-old defendant is due to be sentenced on Tuesday following his guilty plea at the start of his trial last month to 31 criminal charges against 21 adults and eight children.

‘A Man in a Rage’

The prosecution stated those in court that the footage from the defendant’s two-tonne Ford Galaxy was “extremely graphic”. The recording revealed the father of three shouting “expletives” and “fucking move” as he drove towards a large crowd of supporters, some pulling children out of the way as he blasted the horn.

The court was told that Doyle acted as a “man in a rage whose anger had completely taken hold of 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 injured 134 people in just seven minutes – including more than 50 requiring hospital care. An infant was “remarkably” uninjured despite being left splayed on the road when Doyle’s car hit his pram, according to testimony.

One fan, Simon Nash, was shown being thrown into the air by the vehicle, sustaining a cut to the back of his head, broken ribs and multiple abrasions.

The defendant could be heard shouting “fuck’s sake move! Get out my fucking way!” before ploughing further into panicked fans, among them an older woman and young children who were dragged under the car.

Celebration Descends into Chaos

Speaking to a full court, the prosecution said approximately a million individuals were present at “what they thought would be a joyous occasion” marking Liverpool winning their 20th league title. The celebratory atmosphere turned to “terror”, the prosecutor said, when the driver entered the crowd while trying to collect a companion from the parade route.

Rampage Halted by Heroic Act

As bodies lay on the ground, Doyle’s rampage was stopped 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 continued pressing the gas pedal, the court heard.

In his police interview, the defendant claimed he acted in a “state of sheer 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 drove into the crowd and as he did so he intended to cause them serious harm.”

Reckless Behavior Before the Attack

The video indicated the driver had been driving dangerously prior to entering downtown, overtaking cars dangerously and running red lights. He ignored road closures and bypassed other vehicles, even emergency service vehicles, as he approached the packed streets.

Doyle is understood to be facing a jail term of more than 10 years at his sentencing hearing.