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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Pardon for football fan Shields | Pardon for football fan Shields |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Liverpool fan Michael Shields has walked free after being pardoned of the attempted murder of a barman in Bulgaria. | |
| The 22-year-old student, from Liverpool, was convicted of carrying out the attack after his team's win in the 2005 Champions League final. | |
| Justice Secretary Jack Straw issued the royal pardon, saying that Mr Shields was "morally and technically innocent". | |
| Mr Shields' parents, Michael Snr and Maria, were said to be "ecstatic". | |
| Mr Shields has now been reunited with his family, who have campaigned for his release since he was convicted of the attack in Varna. | |
| Joey Graney, Mr Shields' uncle, said the family would like to see the Bulgarian authorities re-open the case and for the "real culprit to be caught". | Joey Graney, Mr Shields' uncle, said the family would like to see the Bulgarian authorities re-open the case and for the "real culprit to be caught". |
| At first he couldn't believe it after all these years and knock-backs John Wheate Michael Shields' solicitor | At first he couldn't believe it after all these years and knock-backs John Wheate Michael Shields' solicitor |
| He said: "This lad has lost four-and-a-half stone. Why should a lad, a young innocent lad, have to have gone through what he's gone through? | |
| "I honestly believe there should be an inquiry. | "I honestly believe there should be an inquiry. |
| "There should be a public inquiry into this case and I think the government should pressurise the Bulgarians to re-open this case. | "There should be a public inquiry into this case and I think the government should pressurise the Bulgarians to re-open this case. |
| "They know who the real culprit is - everyone knows who it is and he should be made to stand up and face what he really [did]." | "They know who the real culprit is - everyone knows who it is and he should be made to stand up and face what he really [did]." |
| Mr Shields has been held in Thorn Cross young offenders institution in Warrington after serving the initial part of his 15-year sentence in Bulgaria. | |
| Mr Straw said that during the last meeting with the Shields family on 28 August he was told about a visit by two members of the Shields family to the home of another man alleged to be responsible for the crime. | |
| He said: "I was told that in the course of the visit that man made an oral confession to the crime in front of several other people. | He said: "I was told that in the course of the visit that man made an oral confession to the crime in front of several other people. |
| Maria and Michael Snr have been fighting for their son's freedom | Maria and Michael Snr have been fighting for their son's freedom |
| "When looked at alongside all the previously available evidence, [it] has now satisfied me that Mr Shields meets the high test set by the court." | "When looked at alongside all the previously available evidence, [it] has now satisfied me that Mr Shields meets the high test set by the court." |
| Mr Straw added that he believed Mr Shields to be "morally and technically innocent". | Mr Straw added that he believed Mr Shields to be "morally and technically innocent". |
| His solicitor, John Wheate, said the jailed fan was "absolutely ecstatic" when he was given the news earlier. | |
| He said his client's family were informed by Mr Straw over the telephone. | He said his client's family were informed by Mr Straw over the telephone. |
| Mr Wheate said: "At first he couldn't believe it after all these years and knock-backs. | Mr Wheate said: "At first he couldn't believe it after all these years and knock-backs. |
| 'Miscarriage of justice' | 'Miscarriage of justice' |
| "But now he is absolutely ecstatic and so are his family." | "But now he is absolutely ecstatic and so are his family." |
| The pardon follows a campaign by the Shields family, MPs, clergymen, Liverpool players and others who believe he is innocent. | The pardon follows a campaign by the Shields family, MPs, clergymen, Liverpool players and others who believe he is innocent. |
| Louise Ellman, Labour MP for Liverpool Riverside, who has been campaigning for Mr Shields' release since he was convicted, said: | |
| "Michael has suffered a gross miscarriage of justice, incarcerated for four years for a crime he did not commit and for which another man has confessed. | "Michael has suffered a gross miscarriage of justice, incarcerated for four years for a crime he did not commit and for which another man has confessed. |
| "I pay tribute to Michael's family and the people of Liverpool for their remarkable courage and persistence." | "I pay tribute to Michael's family and the people of Liverpool for their remarkable courage and persistence." |
| Mrs Ellman added: "Jack Straw has brought justice to an innocent young man. | Mrs Ellman added: "Jack Straw has brought justice to an innocent young man. |
| Liverpool councillor Joe Anderson, who embraced Mr Shields as he left the institute, said: "We've reached the milestone but the fight goes on to clear young Michael's name. | |
| "But today is for celebration that we've got him out and it's a fantastic day." |