Pardon appeal for Shields refused

Jailed Shields' fight for freedom

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

Shields is serving a 10-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.

The father of Liverpool fan Michael Shields reacts to the news his son has not been pardoned

"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."

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 A family's battle to free son

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 15-year 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."

'Strong emotions'

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

Mrs Shields described Mr Straw's decision as a disgrace and said: "This feels like a knife in the back."

Shields' legal team has a month to put forward representation to Mr Straw.

The justice secretary, who had previously argued that he had no authority to grant a pardon, stressed that his decision was provisional.

"I understand, of course, the strong emotions felt by the Shields family and his many supporters in Liverpool and way beyond Liverpool," said Mr Straw.

"What I ask people in return is that you have to operate in this country by the rule of law."

He added that Shields' legal team now had a month to put forward more evidence.

"Of course, I am open to further representations from Mr Shields and I am seeking them," he said.