Liverpool parade victim 'felt sorry' for attacker

A fan who was injured in last year's Liverpool FC victory parade crash has said he felt sorry for the driver who ploughed into the crowd.

Stefan Dettlaf, 73, told 5 News he suffered flashbacks for months after he was injured when Paul Doyle "lost his temper" and drove his Ford Galaxy directly into fans making their way home from the Reds' Premier League title celebrations on 26 May.

Doyle was jailed in December for 21 years and six months after he admitted 31 offences related to the collision in which 134 people were injured.

Speaking about Doyle, Dettlaf said: "I owe him no sorrow or anything but he really looked as though he was going through it. I did feel sorry for him in the court."

The pensioner added: "I see people saying he deserved everything he got and should have got a lot more and absolutely agree.

"Then I see the other side where he never killed anybody as well, which was absolute pure luck."

Dettlaf broke six ribs in the attack. His wife Hilda suffers breathing problems after she was injured, ending up on the bonnet of Doyle's car.

He said that for months he would "break down" when talking about what had happened.

Dettlaf said: "At first, I was terrible with all the flashbacks and everything and all these random faces, people in these flashbacks saying 'Don't worry, you're alright, you're going to live'."

Dean Townsend, 31, who suffered three broken ribs, told 5 News his epilepsy had "spiralled out of control" since the crash and he was undergoing counselling.

Both men told the programme they felt let down by Liverpool FC following the incident.

Dettlaf said: "I didn't expect anyone to personally come and see me, even though it would have been nice; you know, somebody to come and say from the club 'How are you?', 'We're concerned about you'.

"No offers of counselling from the club or anything. The club - total disinterest. I've supported this club for over 60 years."

Meanwhile Townsend said: "I feel well and truly forgotten. I'm possibly not the only one. I know I'm not the only one who feels forgotten about by the club."

A spokesman for Liverpool FC said it was not given details of all of the crash victims and was not allowed to contact them directly, but had to go through police.

He said the club did contact those whose details it had, as well as signposting support services through its channels, and continued to be in contact with victims who come to its attention.

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