Straw meets parents of jailed fan

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Shields, 22, is still behind bars four years after his conviction for attempted murder despite an international campaign that he was wrongly convicted.

The Liverpool FC fan was accused and found guilty of attacking Bulgarian barman Martin Georgiev after the club's European Cup victory in 2005.

Shields, of Liverpool, always maintained his innocence and is currently serving his 10-year term at Warrington jail.

Shields' parents, Michael senior and Marie, were joined by supporters, Liverpool councillor Joe Anderson and Riverside MP Louise Ellman.

After the meeting to discuss the case and a possible royal pardon, Cllr Anderson said: "I am cautiously optimistic that Jack Straw will do the right thing. We have had many setbacks, but let's hope that's the case. He also said he would make the decision as quickly as possible."

Cllr Anderson, who has campaigned for Shields' freedom from the start, described the meeting with Mr Straw in Blackburn as "really positive". He said the group passed on information to the minister he had previously not seen.

Mr Straw said: "On July 2 I made a provisional decision to refuse Michael Shields' application for a free pardon. My reasons for doing so were set out in a long and detailed letter and I made clear at the time that I would welcome any further representations before I made a final decision.

"I also made clear that I would be very happy to meet Mr Shields' parents if they wanted to see me about their son's case. I had a meeting with Mr Shields' parents earlier today and listened carefully to what they had to say. I do not underestimate the distress they feel nor the considerable public support that exists for their son.

"I intend now to move quickly to a final decision on Michael Shields' application, taking into account what his parents said to me today and the written representations I have received on his behalf."