Petition to free Michael Shields

This post contains important information on how you can help and show your support to Free Michael Now! Plus upcoming plans ahead of the Judicial Review on December 4th - including a three minute mosaic showing and 'Free Michael Now' chant at the beginning of the West Ham game on December 1st, at Anfield.

From the Shields family and Spirit Of Shankly:

Free Michael Now!

Michael Shields is innocent, found guilty by a Judicial System that has no hint of the ideas of Justice and Fairness in its processes, and remains incarcerated in the UK, having been transferred from his Bulgarian Jail on payment of the £90,000 compensation to the victim of a terrible crime.

But Michael is a victim too. A victim of a miscarriage of justice. Arrested and forced to wear a t shirt he hadn't been wearing that night for an identity parade. Handcuffed to a radiator, just yards away from passing witnesses. Having his head forcibly shaved to make him look more like the stereotypical 'thug'. Michael was found guilty and despite many eye witness accounts, and a signed confession from another man, Michael remained locked up. He was transferred to the UK after the compensation was paid, following donations and support from Michael's family and friends and members of the public, many of them Liverpool fans aware it could easily have been them.

Throughout all this, the UK government have done little to support Michael. Despite Bulgaria's insistence that he does have the power to do so, Jack Straw claims he is unable to free Michael. So the family have taken the next step. On Thursday 4th December, Michael's legal team and his family will hear the High Court in London carry out a Judicial Review of Jack Straw's decision to refuse a pardon for Michael.

Ahead of the Judicial Review, Spirit Of Shankly, the Liverpool Supporters Union, will be helping the fight to have Michael, our member number 1, freed. We will be supporting the family in this continuing fight. A number of initiatives have been planned in the run up to 4th December, and what will hopefully be a decision that finally sees Michael brought back home to his family.

On Tuesday 25th November 2008, a coach filled with mothers who empathise with Maria Shields, Michael's mother, will set off for London where a press conference will be chaired by Louise Ellman, MP. Maria Shields will then hand in a letter for Sarah Brown, the Prime Minister's wife, at 10 Downing Street asking her to support the campaign to free Michael. This will be followed by a demonstration outside the Ministry of Justice at 11 am. Any mothers wishing to take part should email admin@spiritofshankly.com to register their interest, although places are limited.

A delegation from the Shields' family and Spirit Of Shankly will go to Blackburn to raise the issue of Michael's case in Jack Straw's constituency, and draw on more support.

On Monday 1st December at the West Ham United game, this is the opportunity for all of us, to stand with Michael, and his family, in their bid to have him freed. A banner will be held up at the front of the Kop, saying Free Michael Now, during You'll Never Walk Alone. After this has finished, fans on the Kop will be asked to hold the mosaic up 'Free Michael Now', until the 3rd Minute of the game, whilst chanting 'Free Michael Now'. The 3 minutes is symbolic, a minute for each of the years Michael has spent locked up. The players will also be visually showing their support for the campaign.
SOS are looking for volunteers to help set this up the mosiac in the afternoon before the game, please email admin@spiritofshankly.com if you are able to help.

On Thursday 4th December 2008 when the Judicial Review takes place, Michael's family and supporters will travel to the High Court in London, for what we all hope will be a landmark decision that will see Michael rightfully freed.

There are also other ways to get involved. Sign up to the Free Michael Shields group on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=2210918089&ref=ts) and show your support or contact your local MP to highlight the case to them (http://findyourmp.parliament.uk/commons/l/).

Spare a few minutes for a young lad who has lost three years of his life.

Free Michael Now!

The Shields Family & Spirit Of Shankly

Nice one for that, If only I was going to the West Ham game.

MICHAEL Shields is being moved to an open prison where he could be allowed home visits.

The 22-year-old earned a transfer to a Category D prison because of good behaviour while behind bars.

His family hope the move, possibly to an open prison in the north west, could happen before Christmas.

Category D prisoners can be released on licence to work in the community or go on “home leave”.

The move came as Michael’s mum Marie revealed she was going to Downing Street to present a personal letter to the prime minister’s wife Sarah Brown.

Mrs Shields will be joined by other Liverpool mums including former Brookside and Royle Family actress Sue Johnston.

The trip comes ahead of a review which could see Reds fan Michael freed.

The group plan to protest outside the Ministry of Justice to express their dismay at Jack Straw’s continuing claim he does not have the power to free the Edge Hill engineering student.

The December 4 hearing will be the key date to Michael’s hopes of being released from his 10-year sentence for the attempted murder of a barman in Bulgaria in 2005. City Labour leader Joe Anderson, who led the campaign to free him, said: “It’s not before time.

“Michael should have been given this status and category a long time ago, of course he should not be in prison in the first place.

“He has been given no favours by the government. Michael has earned the transfer by his exemplary behaviour. It speaks volumes for him.”

Michael’s solicitor John Wheate, nominated legal aid solicitor of the year for his work for Michael, said: “This is wonderful news ahead of the High Court case.

“Hopefully he will be moved within the next six weeks.

“The really positive thing is that this gives Michael the opportunity to go home at some point before his current release date in 2010.”

Michael is currently in the category C prison at Haverigg in Cumbria.

He has always denied being involved in the attack which happened after Liverpool FC’s 2005 Champions League victory.

Fingers crossed for the lad and his family, how good would it be to have him near for Christmas and maybe even allowed home.

Certainly no more than he deserves.

Keep the faith Michael.

Marie Shields, Michael's mum was today handing in a letter to PM Gordon Brown, Via Sarah Brown. She wasn't expecting to be called into 10 Downing Street, which is exactly what happened. Mrs Brown officially backs the campaign its just said on Granada news, Lucy Meacock just announced the breaking news with a little smile on her face, plus it has also been on BBC's North West News bulletin.

One last push Next Monday at the West Ham game, mosaic and chants for three minutes and you never know, the lad c ould be home for chrimbo.

Here's what the Press Association are putting out to all the media that take stuff from them:

Mrs Shields was received into 10 Downing Street, where she presented a personal letter about her son's case to Sarah Brown, the wife of the Prime Minister.
Mrs Shields said they had spoken for around 10 minutes and Mrs Brown had put her arms around her.
She said: "She sat there listening to what I had to say about Michael. There were tears in both our eyes.
"She said 'As a family, you have our support', and she will be reading the letter and will let Jack Straw know that we have met today."

LIVERPOOL FC has given its biggest public endorsement for the campaign to free Michael Shields, the football fan convicted of attacking a Bulgarian waiter in the wake of their European Cup win in May 2005.

Following approaches by his campaign group and Spirit of Shankly, the union formed by the club’s supporters, it has made the unprecedented agreement to allow his parents Michael senior and Marie, together with actress Sue Johnston, to address the crowd from the pitch 10 minutes before kick-off at next Monday’s evening match against West Ham.

The Kop has also been sanctioned to hold up a mosaic spelling out Free Michael Shields before the game which will be broadcast nationwide by Setanta TV.

Liverpool players have also agreed to wear T-shirts bearing the same words before the game after being approached by the Spirit at a special meeting held with them at the Liverpool FC training ground at Melwood yesterday, although this has still to be officially confirmed.

This came after Jamie Carragher invited union members Nicky Allt and Frank Bentley in for an audience with other players such as Steven Gerrard, Sami Hyypia and Dirk Kuyt to tell them about the campaign to free Shields, currently serving 10 years for the serious assault he claims he did not commit on Martin Georgiev in the Black Sea resort of Golden Sands.

"The players were brilliant, listening to everything we had to say promising to wear the shirts and get all the other Liverpool players at the game to wear them as well," said local writer Mr Allt, a founder member of the union. "We may even try to get the West Ham players to wear the shirts too."

Well in on the organisation of the mosaic.

Setanta gave a bit of coverage to Sue Johnston who appeared to have lost the ability to read, but fingers crossed on the Judicial Review on Thursday.

Bless Sue Johnston, think she was getting a bit emotional wasn't she. Or the nerves were kicking in at her beloved Anfield. Well in Sue! And well in to everyone in the Kop who kept the 'Free Michael Now' chant going for three minutes.

And fair play to Setanta giving the reading and mosaic the coverage.

It's all about Thursday now.

Well done to all the fans last night, Liverpool and West Ham for there support of Michael Shields.

Well done to the Kop, they put on a great show, must have sang his name for about 10Min's, after the game had started.

WELL DONE.

Fingers crossed for the Shields family on Thursday.

Michael's' Dad was on LFC now this evening, he said if everything goes to plan Michael could be home this weekend.

Must be hard for them not to get too excited.

I really hope they get good news, the whole family have suffered enough, especially Michael.

i just cant believe how you want freedom for a criminal like Michael Shields...

I just cant believe how you want freedom for a criminal like Michael Shields...

Explain!

i just cant believe how you want freedom for a criminal like Michael Shields...

Please feel free to expand so we can all ridicule you.

i just cant believe how you want freedom for a criminal like Michael Shields...

Surprised I'm the only one who negged you for that remark.

I just cant believe how you want freedom for a criminal like Michael Shields...

And your proof is?

Surprised I'm the only one who negged you for that remark.

Your not now Res 

Same here.

Be more suprised if we see him/her online again.

*Free Michael Shields!!*
Good luck today Michael!! It's about time you had some luck.

Same here.
Be more suprised if we see him/her online again.

Do we have a large Ladyboy following on here mate?


Apologies for the humour but on a deadly serious note can i now add my very best wishes to Michael for todays hearing into a crime he actually slept through!!.. and whilst agreeing wholeheartedly with everyone who wishes him luck i find it disgusting that Michael has to rely on such a pot luck outcome for a crime he never even witnessed let alone took part in.

All the best mate i hope your home with your wonderful family soon.

Surprised I'm the only one who negged you for that remark.

Your not now Res 

Good luck Michael, lets hope we hear good news today, you deserve it mate.

MICHAEL Shields’ fate was still in the balance today after the high court delayed a decision on whether Jack Straw can free him.

Judges sitting at London’s Royal Courts of Justice reserved their ruling until a later date, possibly within the next seven days, after a day of legal argument.

It means the 22 year-old, from Edge Hill, must wait for a verdict.

But he did receive some good news today when he was transferred to an open prison, believed to be in Warrington.

i just cant believe how you want freedom for a criminal like Michael Shields...

Un-F***ing-believable, bet the sad c**t REG has been all over the net trying to find a Liverpool site to post that sh*te, I wonder if Reg's email address is really his own!! It would be even worse if this clown claimed to be a red!

So Michael might have to wait seven days for his verdict, that news of him being moved to Warrington has to be an indicator to how the verdict will go, which, hopefully, fingers crossed, will mean his freedom!

So Michael might have to wait seven days for his verdict, that news of him being moved to Warrington has to be an indicator to how the verdict will go, which, hopefully, fingers crossed, will mean his freedom!

Agreed, fingers crossed

A link to check out support for Michael from Zvezda (the old Red Star Belgrade) fans in Serbia

http://www.delije.net/galerija/08_09/0809_jagodina_cz_3.jpg