Petition for jailed fan's release

The 21-year-old was moved to a British prison in 2006

A petition campaigning for the release of jailed Liverpool fan Michael Shields has been presented to the European Parliament in Brussels.

Shields was convicted of the attempted murder of a barman in Bulgaria in 2005 and jailed for 10 years but has always maintained his innocence.

MEP Arlene McCarthy presented a petition complaining about the case's handling by the Bulgarian authorities.

The Bulgarian government has said the UK officials could free Shields.

The Bulgarian justice minister has said it is up to the UK government when he is released as he is now serving his sentence in the UK.

Another man had previously admitted carrying out the attack, but later withdrew his confession.

There are two miscarriages of justice in this case, an innocent man is in jail and the culprit is still at large Pete Weatherby, Shields' lawyer

Arlene McCarthy, MEP for the north west of England, won backing from the European Parliament's Petitions Committee to take up the case with the Bulgarian authorities.

A formal petition was presented to the committee in Brussels by Ms McCarthy and human rights lawyer, Pete Weatherby.

Ms McCarthy said: "We are taking this petition because we are frustrated at the failure of the Bulgarian Judicial Authorities to engage with Michael Shields' legal team.

'Innocent man'

"Many people including senior members of the European Parliament have already intervened with the Bulgarian authorities and taken an active interest in Michael's case and now we are formally presenting a petition to the Parliament."

She added: "The Bulgarians' failure to respond to any of the letters or legal documents formally presented by Michael's legal team is a dereliction of their legal obligations under the treaties to engage in judicial co-operation."

Mr Weatherby said: "The rule of law doesn't operate unless the relevant authorities engage with their own legal processes and those international instruments to which they have signed up.

"There are two miscarriages of justice in this case, an innocent man is in jail and the culprit is still at large."