Jailed Liverpool Fan Granted Pardon

Liverpool fan Michael Shields is set to be released from prison after he was pardoned by Justice Secretary Jack Straw.

The 22-year-old, who was given a 10-year sentence for the attempted murder of a barman in Bulgaria, in 2005, has won a four-and-a-half-year fight to clear his name.

His parents, Michael Snr and Maria, held talks with Mr Straw and Liverpool Labour leader Joe Anderson at his constituency office in Blackburn on August 28.

In a statement, Mr Straw said that during the meeting "important new evidence came to light".

It has been reported that Mr Straw heard about a visit by two members of the Shields family to the home of another man alleged to be responsible for the crime.

Mr Straw 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.

"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."

Cllr Anderson commented: "This is the news we have all been waiting so long for. At last an innocent man is being freed from prison for a crime he did not commit. It hasn’t come a moment too soon, but we’re delighted."

(GK/KMcA)