Man Who Drove Into LFC Parade Was ‘In a Rage’, Court Hears.

An ex- Royal Marine acted as a “person consumed by fury” as he drove into scores of LFC supporters at a victory parade, an incident many initially feared to be a terrorist attack, according to court proceedings.

Those injured of Paul Doyle wept as dashcam footage showed bodies spinning through the air while he sped towards the gathering and shouted: “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 criminal charges involving 21 adults and eight children.

‘A Man in a Rage’

Prosecutors warned those in court that the footage from Doyle’s large people carrier was “truly shocking”. It showed the parent yelling “fucking pricks” as well as “fucking move” while he headed straight for hundreds of fans, with people frantically dragging children to safety as he blasted the horn.

The court was told that Doyle was a “man in a rage had completely overpowered him” as he ploughed further into the crowd, speeding up while individuals were struck by his vehicle.

Extent of the Injuries

Overall, the ex-marine injured 134 people in just seven minutes – with over fifty requiring hospital care. A six-month-old boy was “miraculously” uninjured despite being left splayed on the road after the vehicle struck his stroller, the court heard.

One fan, Simon Nash, was seen being launched into the air by the car, suffering a laceration on his head, broken ribs and multiple abrasions.

Doyle was heard screaming “for God’s sake move! Get out of my path!” prior to driving deeper into panicked fans, including an elderly woman and children who became trapped beneath the vehicle.

Scene of Jubilation Turns to Horror

Addressing a packed courtroom, the prosecution said about 1 million people had attended “an event they believed to be a day of joyfulness” to celebrate the football club’s championship win. Scenes of jubilation swiftly became “terror”, it was said, when the driver entered the crowd while trying to collect a companion who had been at the parade.

Brave Intervention Stops Driver

As bodies lay on the ground, Doyle’s rampage was stopped 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, the defendant claimed he acted in a “blind panic” because he feared for his life. However, prosecutors contended that the video showed the defendant “just lost his temper in his determination to reach his destination”. The prosecutor added: “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

Footage showed the driver had been driving dangerously before he reached the city centre, undertaking cars at speed and running red lights. He disregarded road closures and bypassed other cars, including an ambulance and police cars, as he approached the packed streets.

Doyle is expected to receive a jail term of over a decade when he is sentenced on Tuesday.