Shields Refused Pardon

[JD]

Michael Shields refused pardon

Jailed Liverpool football fan Michael Shields has had an appeal for a pardon provisionally refused by Justice Secretary Jack Straw.

Shields is serving a ten-year sentence for the attempted murder of a Bulgarian barman after his team's victory in the Champions League Final in 2005.

High Court judges ruled in December that Mr Straw had the power to grant Shields a pardon.

Shields, 22, from Edge Hill, Liverpool, has always maintained his innocence.

A statement issued by the Ministry of Justice said: "Following a detailed and careful consideration of all the relevant evidence the Justice Secretary Jack Straw has made a provisional decision that the application for a free pardon from Mr Michael Shields should be refused.

"Mr Straw has made his decision in accordance with the High Court judgment of 17 December 2008 which indicated that, in order to grant a free pardon, he would have to be satisfied that Mr Shields was morally and technically innocent."

"This is a very high test and the justice secretary has provisionally concluded that on the evidence he currently has, that test is not met."

Paving slab

Before December's High Court ruling, Mr Straw had always argued he had no authority to intervene in the case.

The football fan is serving his sentence at Thorn Cross Young Offenders Institute, in Appleton Thorn, Warrington.

Shields, who is due for release in May 2010, has been told he can make further representations to Mr Straw who will then make a final decision.

   
I have spoken to Michael and he is absolutely distraught
Michael Shields Snr

Shields was with a group of friends who visited the Golden Sands resort in Varna, Bulgaria, after the club's Champions League win in Istanbul.

He was arrested with several others by local police on 30 May 2005 after barman Martin Georgiev was hit on the head with a paving slab, suffering a fractured skull.

He was convicted later that year and transferred to the UK in 2006 to complete his sentence, which was reduced on appeal to 10 years.

Shields' father, also Michael, said: "We are absolutely devastated. I have spoken to Michael and he is absolutely distraught.

"I don't know how much more we can take as a family. One minute we are expecting him to be pardoned and released then the next minute all our hopes are dashed.

"All I can say is that Michael, his family and all the campaigners are absolutely heartbroken."

Mr Shields, along with his wife Marie, have led the campaign to have their son freed.

Shields' solicitor Jon Wheate told BBC News: "We believe the evidence is overwhelming and any right-minded person will look at it and see that.

"It is Michael Shields we should all be feeling for."

Mr Wheate said he was only made aware that the pardon had been refused in a call from his client.

An absolute disgrace.  No question about it.

Labour have just lost my vote in the next general election.

[shabbadoo]

mine too.

[Bpatel]

How bloody stupid is that!?

Absolutely disgraceful, can't believe it really.

[RedPuppy]

Speechless and angry. Hang in there Michael.

[paulrobbo]

Feel physically sick. I just can't believe it.

My thoughts are with Michael and his family.

[philH]

Any Red's living in Blackburn should vote for the party that finished second in the last election, unseat the pr**k once and for all. All Straw and his pal's are interested in is having their snout's in the trough

[johnstop]

Its now clear to get justice in this country you have to have either money or infulence.I reaffirm my previous statement that 50,000 Scousers marching on Downing st would do the trick and I for one am up for it.

[paulrobbo]

Its now clear to get justice in this country you have to have either money or infulence.I reaffirm my previous statement that 50,000 Scousers marching on Downing st would do the trick and I for one am up for it.

110% up for that.

[JD]

Any Red's living in Blackburn should vote for the party that finished second in the last election, unseat the pr**k once and for all. All Straw and his pal's are interested in is having their snout's in the trough

Couldn't agree more.

[johnstop]

First its Ronnie Biggs an 80 year old partially blind man who is on deaths door and now Michael what is it exactly that he is trying to tell us. This country is now well and truly fu**ed if we keep people like this in jail and other scum get community service justice should not be about making examples out of people it should only be about justice.,
I am so f**king angry right now god only knows how his family are dealing with it.

[bartman49]

Theirs been so much evidence to show his innocence, It just goes to show the Gov. lack of Balls, they are willing to leave an innocent lad with a guilty tag, and why, because they don't want to upset the Bulgarians. I didn't see a sorry from the Bulgar's, you should have told them to go f**k themselves Mr Home Sectary, just like they did to us....

[bartman49]

Who finished second in the Blacburn seat ?, please don't tell me it was the BNP. Thats one party I really dislike with a passion...

[johnstop]

The Bulgarians have already said they think they have the wrong man its nothing to do with them. Its this incompetent fuckwit Government and its Ministers who are supposed to represent Socialism and the working class man what a f**king joke.

[Gow]

He's a b***ard Straw.

You'll be out soon Michael. And every single one of us will buy your book when it's written. Hopefully that will help rebuild your life. I'm sorry mate. Keep fighting in your heart, and one day you'll be free of the guilt label.

That sankey needs to rot in hell.

[johnstop]

Its times like these you feel completely useless is their at least an Email address were we can bombard Straw with I am going to try and contact my MP and tell him exactly what I think of him and his party. what about a Free Michael shields Candidate in his constituency.

[eurored]

First its Ronnie Biggs an 80 year old partially blind man who is on deaths door and now Michael what is it exactly that he is trying to tell us. This country is now well and truly fu**ed if we keep people like this in jail and other scum get community service justice should not be about making examples out of people it should only be about justice.,
I am so f**king angry right now god only knows how his family are dealing with it.

Agreed.

I cant understand why three High Court Appeal Judges who have years more legal experience than a former Home Secretary should be overidden by a jobsworth as Lord Chancellor Jack (Youre Gonna Lose Blackburn You B***ard) Straw.
He admittedly did qualify as a Barrister in Criminal Law but  all three Judges have examined the evidence .

Neither Shields or Biggs are any threat to the community.
Their only "crime" is their publicity. Perhaps thats why Straw has refused.
To raise his own profile.

Hang in their Michael. You can sort it when you are finally out.

[johnstop]

We are so impassive these days that we just Accept anything Governments throw at us. I for one am willing to get his fat arse out of his chair and support this family if they need me.

[dunlop liddell shankly]

It's this country for you. Murderers, rapists, thieves and pedophiles are left to roam the streets we walk when the innocent members of society who happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time are left to suffer in the four walls of a prison cell.

It's typical of the southern loving government to sh*t upon the north. All these pansy f**king politicians are the same, lying, thieving scum. Complete disgrace the way Straw has treated this city, our club and our fans over the past 10-12 years. He's a pr**k who shouldn't even step foot in Merseyside again.

Hopefully one day, sooner the better, Michael will get his name cleared. We know he's innocent, as do his family and even the police officers who arrested him. Straw knows Michael is innocent as well which makes this news even worse.

Stay strong Michael mate. Your day will come one day.

[xBooniex]

This is a complete joke our country is going down the drain while we have a corrupt government in place my only fear is that when they lose the next general election we will be trading one group of bumbling idiots for another.

To all the Shield family I hope that someone realises your heartache and puts right this massive injustice

YNWA

[Brian78]

Feel so sorry for Michael and his family. They have been dealt a massive blow. Hopefully it will make them even more determined now in there fight for justice

[james08kop]

I watch prime minister question every Wednesday at 12 and see Jack Straw and his party all laughing how do they sleep after making two mistakes this week ...and more mistakes coming

[johnstop]

The arrogance and contempt this man has is infuriating.

[Court LFC]

I just don't know what to say.

Jack Straw you spineless b***ard.

[chats]

F***ing disgrace that.

[dunlop liddell shankly]

What makes it worse is that only a few short months ago Mr Gordon Brown was talking about the prisons of Britain being overcrowded. Here the government have the chance to set an innocent man free but refuse - keeping the prisons of Britain just as crowded.

Disgrace.