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Liverpool football fan walks free after pardon
Ed Harris09.09.09
FREED football fan Michael Shields spoke today of the “living hell” he endured while being in prison for a crime that he did not commit.
The 22-year-old Liverpool FC supporter, who received an official pardon today, applauded his family and supporters, saying he knew he “would never walk alone” during his long fight for freedom.
In a statement read out on his behalf by the Bishop of Liverpool the Rt Rev James Jones, he said: “The last four years have been the hardest four years of my life. They have been a living hell.”
He added: “I am only sitting here today thanks to the love, support and tireless campaigning of a number of people. All have been so solid in their support for me and my family.”
Shields was jailed for 15 years in Bulgaria for the attempted murder of barman Martin Georgiev.
Today he gave the thumbs up as he was freed from Thorn Cross Young Offender Institution in Warrington.
He was convicted after a disturbance as he travelled home following Liverpool's European Cup victory in Turkey in 2005. He was transferred to a prison in Britain a year later.
Today Justice Secretary Jack Straw gave him a pardon, saying he was innocent of the attack.
Shields said: “It's a hard thing to be locked away for a crime you did not commit. I was just 18 when I was arrested. I'm now 22 and face having to rebuild my life which was shattered by the failure of two legal systems, one here in the UK and one in Bulgaria.”
He added: “I would like to extend my sympathy to the family of Martin Georgiev, who was the innocent victim of an unprovoked attack. He and his family, like me and mine, have been denied justice for four long years.”
He also thanked Liverpool and Everton football fans who supported him, adding: “Thanks to you, I knew I would never walk alone. Thank you.”
His pardon follows a campaign by his family, MPs, clergymen, Liverpool players and many others.
Mr Straw met Mr Shields's parents Michael and Marie on 28 August, when they presented new evidence which convinced him of his innocence, he said in a statement.
After that meeting he recommended to the Queen that Mr Shields be pardoned.
Mr Straw said he was told by Mr and Mrs Shields about a meeting between members of their family and another man accused of the attack on Mr Georgiev, who was hit on the head with a rock.
Mr Straw was told the man, Graham Sankey, confessed to the attack during Mr Shields's trial in Bulgaria.
Mr Straw said: “I was told the man made an oral confession in front of several other people.”
Mr Straw asked Merseyside Police to make further inquiries.
The alleged confession by Mr Sankey, an electrician from Liverpool, had been ruled inadmissible at Mr Shields's trial.
In a statement today, Liverpool FC said: “It is great news Michael has been granted a pardon. We hope now that Michael and his family will be able to move on with their lives.”
Reader views (8)
Congratulations on your release and I just hope the England football team did you proud last night...
- John Kennedy, London/Cornwall...
I am puzzled here,first of all congratulations to Mr Shields on being freed he thoroughly deserves it.
Straw Jacks position on this puzzles me,first of all he can,t free him under the cirumstances,then we have Megrahi and Biggs on compassionate grounds and then we have new evidence presented by the parents in a chat!!!.
Frankly it beggars belief that from a can,t do situation we suddenly can do.
What is this bombshell new evidence,I have known for some time that another person admitted this crime as has the rest of the country.
Methinks Straw Jack is playing a political game here for his own reasons.
Makes me wonder what will happen to our american hacker via postman pat,will we jump to the yanks tune or will we grow some backbone in this spineless government and tell them to get lost.
- Roy.C, wigan.england.
How so Melanie Carson?. The fellow is innocent, he never confessed to any crime. Indeed another person has confessed to the assault. How is it like Gadaffi and Magrahi. It seems crass to suggest it.
- Paul, Kent
As I understand it, the Bulgarian authorities would not accept the confession because the person who made it would not repeat it in a court in Bulgaria and has denied it subsequently. Also, none of, or not all of, the people who heard it were prepared to give evidence at an appeal.
Unless the Bulgarians could test the evidence with the people concerned why should they accept the other persons confession?
- William, London
'This story is the Gadaffi and Magrahi story all over again' - Melanie Carson, Hackney, UK
If you have followed this case Melanie you would find that Michael Shields is clearly innocent. Or do you believe the criminal justice system infallible. As to the rest of your comment… why would the people of Liverpool be waving Bulgarian flags? It was the Bulgarians flawed legal system that put him inside in the first place?
- Paul, London
This story is the Gadaffi and Magrahi story all over again with Jack Straw in the Gadaffi role and Michael Shields as Magrahi. I expect there'll be Bulgarian flags waved in Liverpool tonight and joyful celebrations from the BBC.
- Melanie Carson, Hackney, UK
How about the scumbag that actually did do it?
- Grim Reaper, Hell
This convoluted affair has a strange odour, and it will be interesting to see what the Bulgarian legal eagles make of it.
We are talking Liverpool here (ask Boris), so best not to comment too sharply; but with genial Jack Straw at this morning's televised extravaganza, expect a shoal of extra votes at the coming General Election for the current New Labour MP.
- Ted, London
