COMPUSORY UPGRADE!!! Request an upgrade NOW! 32+ Pre-installed Modifications! 3 Server Locations to choose from: USA, UK and JAPAN.
11th December 2012 - phpBB88: All servers are upgraded to run using SSD drive. Click Here to report problems!
Nic
Guest
:
Items |
| Michael Shields |
 |
|
Don't think we have one of these threads already on this site... apologies if I've missed and this is a duplicate 
quote:
Jailed football fan on way to UK
Michael Shields is set to serve the rest of his sentence in the UK
Liverpool football fan Michael Shields, who was jailed in Bulgaria for the attempted murder of a barman, is returning to the UK.
Shields was given 10 years after a concrete block was dropped on the barman in 2005. He has always denied any involvement.
Bulgarian officials allowed him to return after a £90,000 fine was paid.
Shields' solicitor told the BBC his client is flying back to the UK and would be taken to Wandsworth Prison.
Reacting to the news, his mother Maria Shields told BBC News: "It's a relief that we are getting him home to England, but our next step is to the Court of Human Rights to take his case there.
"It is just so sad that he's being brought to a prison, he should be being brought to his home."
Mrs Shields thanked the people of Liverpool and around the world who had supported the campaign to get their son transferred.
"If it wasn't for the majority of people helping us we would never have been able to bring Michael home," she added.
His father, also called Michael, said he was relieved his son was finally returning home but saddened that he would be placed behind bars.
He said: "He has spent too much time behind bars already and the fight will not stop here, we will continue to campaign to get my son free."
Miss Ellman, the Shields' local MP, described his transfer as a "major step forward" and paid tribute to the co-operation between the Bulgarian and British authorities.
"We must continue the campaign for justice and an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights is being filed," she said.
Written confession
Miss Ellman said there remained huge question marks over the way the Shields case was handled by the courts in Bulgaria, but it could take up to two years for the case to be dealt with.
Shields, 20, from Edge Hill, was jailed for the attempted murder of barman Martin Georgiev, who had a paving slab dropped on his head in the Black Sea resort of Varna in May 2005.
He has always protested his innocence and told the court he was asleep at the time of the incident.
Another Liverpool man, 20-year-old Graham Sankey, made a written confession to the attack, although his solicitor now insists his client was referring to a different brawl.
The £90,000 fine which Bulgarian authorities had requested in order to authorise his transfer to the UK was paid in October, after a high-profile fundraising campaign by Shields' family and supporters.
|
Thu Nov 23, 2006 2:22 pm |
|
|
ali
Bob Paisley
Joined: 09 Oct 2006
Posts: 9634
:
Location: by the seaside
Items |
just hope they can get this appeal going asap and move him a little closer to home than Wandsworth  |
|
Fri Nov 24, 2006 7:10 pm |
|
|
ali
Bob Paisley
Joined: 09 Oct 2006
Posts: 9634
:
Location: by the seaside
Items |
|
|
|
just read on RAOTL that hew was moved here today -
Hindley
Hindley opened in 1961 as a Borstal. In 1983 it was re-classified as a Youth Custody Centre. It was then re-classified as an adult prison and in 1997 it became a joint prison and Young Offenders Institution.
Address:
HM Prison Hindley
Gibson Street
Bickershaw
Wigan
WN2 5TH
Tel: 01942 663100
Fax: 01942 663101
Governor: Ray Hill
Operational Capacity: 455 as at 31st January 2006
Reception Criteria: Sentenced young adults(not lifers) and both convicted and unconvicted juveniles.
Accommodation: Three young adult wings providing 244 places and two juvenile wings providing 192 places.
Regime: Hindley is a combined establishment with a regime that endeavours to provide positive opportunities for young people to gain qualifications and to address offending behaviour, whilst aiding them to reintegrate into society on their release. Regime provision includes learning and skills, workshop places including construction skills and physical education. Hindley also operates a listener and peer support scheme for those who may be at risk of suicide or self harm. Hindley has an in-patient healthcare facility and a mental health day care centre.
hopefully he'll be safer there than Wandsworth and much closer for his family. |
|
Fri Nov 24, 2006 7:22 pm |
|
|
Nic
Guest
:
Items |
|
|
|
quote:
Shields visited in jail by family
Michael Shields is set to serve the rest of his sentence in the UK
The parents of Liverpool football fan Michael Shields, who was jailed for attempted murder in Bulgaria, have visited him in jail in England.
The 20-year-old, from the Edge Hill area of Liverpool, was jailed for 10 years in July 2005, but he has always denied any involvement.
Officials allowed Shields to return to the UK to serve the remainder of his sentence after a £90,000 fine was paid.
He arrived in London on Thursday and was moved to HMP Hindley in Wigan.
Shields was jailed for 10 years after barman Martin Georgiev had a paving slab dropped on his head in the Black Sea resort of Varna.
The 20-year-old had travelled Bulgaria for a holiday after being in Turkey, where he had watched Liverpool FC beat AC Milan in the Champions League Final in Istanbul.
Shields claims he was in bed when the attack took place.
His mother, Maria Shields, said: "Michael shouldn't be in jail at all because he is innocent, but it is better to be in jail in Wigan than in Bulgaria, or even down in London."
|
|
Sun Nov 26, 2006 5:28 pm |
|
|
Nic
Luis Suarez
Joined: 15 Feb 2007
Posts: 1066
:
Location: Oxfordshire, UK
Items |
quote:
Jailed fan 'can get free pardon'
The 22-year-old was moved to a British prison in 2006
Jailed Liverpool fan Michael Shields has won an important battle at the High Court in London in his bid for a free pardon.
The 22-year-old is serving a 10-year sentence for the attempted murder of a barman in Bulgaria in 2005, but has always maintained his innocence.
High Court judges have ruled Justice Secretary Jack Straw has the power to issue a pardon to Shields.
Mr Straw previously insisted he does not have the power to free him.
|
|
Wed Dec 17, 2008 3:21 pm |
|
|
AndyT
Guest
:
Items |
He's a Blackburn fan, he's got his own problems.
Anyway, I hope it all works out. It's hard to imagine how he's feeling now. |
|
Wed Dec 17, 2008 6:29 pm |
|
|
Nic
Luis Suarez
Joined: 15 Feb 2007
Posts: 1066
:
Location: Oxfordshire, UK
Items |
|
|
|
quote:
Shields allowed short home visit
Liverpool fan Michael Shields has spent his first night at home since being jailed in Bulgaria in 2005.
The 22-year-old is serving a 10-year sentence for the attempted murder of a barman in May 2005, but has always maintained his innocence.
He was transferred to the UK in 2006 and is serving his sentence at Thorn Cross Prison in Warrington.
His father, also called Michael, said he had enjoyed an emotional return to Edge Hill, Liverpool, last month.
Mr Shields, 46, said: "He really enjoyed the time he had home and it was very emotional for all of us. His mum Maria and his sisters were in tears, we all were, but he was strong.
"He had two nights at home which he thoroughly enjoyed and it was great to see him in his own room - which is where he should have been sleeping for the last three-and-a-half years.
"We had a lovely sit down dinner and the family came to see him. But then we had to take him back to prison which was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do.
"We shouldn't be driving our son back to prison and watching him go through the doors to a life he doesn't deserve."
Pardon disappointment
Shields has always protested he did not drop a paving slab on the head of barman Martin Georgiev, almost killing him, in the Black Sea resort of Varna in May 2005.
At one point another Liverpool fan, who was staying in the same hotel as Shields, signed a confession admitting that he carried out the attack, but he later retracted it.
High Court judges ruled in December that Justice Secretary Jack Straw has the power to issue a pardon, which he is still considering.
"It is very hard for us at the moment because Jack Straw said on December 19 there would be a swift decision - but we're nearly three months on, that's not swift," Mr Shields added.
"We are very disappointed with Mr Straw."
Politicians, footballers, the clergy and entertainers have joined the thousands of supporters calling for Shields' freedom.
His next temporary release is expected to be in March.
|
|
Thu Feb 26, 2009 11:16 am |
|
|
koolkamal
Pepe Reina
Joined: 09 Oct 2006
Posts: 3000
:
Items |
|
|
|
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/merseyside/8245760.stm
Pardon for football fan Shields
Michael Shields
Michael Shields has always maintained his innocence
Liverpool fan Michael Shields has been pardoned by Justice Secretary Jack Straw.
The 22-year-old, who is serving a 10-year sentence for the attempted murder of a barman in Bulgaria, is set to leave prison later.
He was jailed in 2005 for the attack, which took place after his team's win in the 2005 Champions League final.
His parents, Michael Snr and Maria, have campaigned for his release since he was convicted.
In a statement, Mr Straw said that during the last meeting with the Shields family on 28 August "important new evidence came to light".
He was told about a visit by two members of the Shields family to the home of another man alleged to be responsible for the crime.
At first he couldn't believe it after all these years and knock-backs
John Weate, Michael Shields' solicitor
He 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."
Mr Straw added that he believed Mr Shields to be "morally and technically innocent".
The 22-year-old's solicitor, John Wheate, said the jailed fan was "absolutely ecstatic" when he was given the news earlier.
He said his client was told by the prison governor that he would be a free man at 0930 BST and his family were informed by Mr Straw over the telephone.
'Absolutely ecstatic'
Mr Wheate said: "I don't know if Michael has been released yet but I can confirm he has been pardoned and will be released today.
"At first he couldn't believe it after all these years and knock-backs.
"But now he is absolutely ecstatic and so are his family."
The pardon follows a campaign by the Shields family, MPs, clergymen, Liverpool players and others who believe he is innocent.
Louise Ellman, Labour MP for Liverpool Riverside, who has been campaigning for Mr Shields' release since he was convicted, said: "I am overjoyed at Jack Straw's decision.
"Michael has suffered a gross miscarriage of justice, incarcerated for four years for a crime he did not commit and for which another man has confessed.
"I pay tribute to Michael's family and the people of Liverpool for their remarkable courage and persistence."
Mrs Ellman added: "Jack Straw has brought justice to an innocent young man.
"This is a day for celebration." |
|
Wed Sep 09, 2009 9:41 am |
|
|
ali
Bob Paisley
Joined: 09 Oct 2006
Posts: 9634
:
Location: by the seaside
Items |
at last 
_________________
'There is no need to reinvent the game. People think they can reinvent it, no chance.' |
|
Wed Sep 09, 2009 6:13 pm |
|
|
ali
Bob Paisley
Joined: 09 Oct 2006
Posts: 9634
:
Location: by the seaside
Items |
|
|
|
Exclusive: Michael Shields - 'Support made me proud of Liverpool'
By Brian Reade 11/09/2009
Whenever the legal system delivered another slap to Michael Shields' face, his only thought was for the pain it gave his family.
After the 15-year jail sentence, the Bulgarian courts and the European Court of Human Rights turning down appeals and the British Government refusing to grant him a pardon, the knowledge of what it was doing to his dad Michael, mum Maria and sisters Melissa and Laura left him in bits.
"Those four years have been hard for me but it's been even harder for my family. Whenever I got bad news my first thought was always, 'Oh God, I wonder how they're going to take it'," said the 22-year-old from Liverpool who was this week pardoned for an attack four years ago on a Bulgarian waiter.
"I was in jail, in my own little bubble. But I was worrying about how they were dealing with the knock-backs and people saying bad things about me. It's easy inside to get on with it but it's harder for them outside."
Despite no DNA, CCTV or forensic evidence and another man admitting the crime, Shields was found guilty of the attempted murder of Martin Georgiev in the Black Sea resort of Varna, five nights after Liverpool's Champions League Final STORY Reade victory in May 2005. He went on to serve four years and three months in Bulgarian and British prisons.
His morale hit rock-bottom when he went to Sofia for an appeal hearing, convinced, like his lawyers, that he would get a re-trial. All the judge did was cut his sentence to 10 years and raise his fine.
"When the European Court of Human Rights knocked me back and wouldn't even give me a reason why, I wanted to pack the fight in for good.
"I said to my dad, 'I'm not begging any more. That's it. Leave me alone. I'm fed up of waiting and hoping and nothing happening. I can't take any more disappointments'."
What picked him off the floor and kept him going through his bleakest moments was the unstinting support from his family and the people of Liverpool.
The hard work of his campaigners in Liverpool, led by the city council's Labour leader Joe Anderson, forced the Bulgarians to transfer him to Britain in November 2006.
Mosaics were held up on the Kop, bucket collections at Anfield raised over £20,000, fundraising events put thousands more into the fighting fund and Liverpool players rallied to the cause.
Jamie Carragher made a public appeal for then Prime Minister Tony Blair to become personally involved in the case, and the club invited Michael's father to their training ground to update the players on his plight. Without being asked for a penny the squad topped up the appeal fund by £50,000, allowing the £90,000 fine to be paid, and Michael to see out his time in an English prison.
"The support from Liverpool was just amazing. It really hit home how much people were thinking about me when I got birthday cards from Liverpool players.
"More than anything the support from LFC, the fans and Scousers in general have seen me though this. I feel very proud to come from my city. And if I hear anyone say anything bad about Liverpool I jump up and tell them they haven't got a clue. If I was from anywhere else in the world I'd still be rotting inside a Bulgarian jail.
"The Liverpool qualities that other people slag off really came out. It's the support of Liverpool that's got me where I am today. They paid the huge fine that got me back to Britain and then they let the Government know 'you've got to do something about this. We won't let it go'.
"When I was behind my cell door the words to You'll Never Walk Alone would come to me. I knew they were true. The people of Liverpool were making sure I didn't walk alone. I can't describe how much that helped me get through it."
Earlier this year, when Michael was out of prison on home leave, he went to the Melwood training ground to thank the players and staff. It was a dream come true for the Liverpool fanatic.
"Meeting them was crazy. Sami Hyypia was asking me, 'How is the case coming along?' and I'm thinking, 'How does he know about it?'
"Rafa Benitez was talking to me for about an hour and a half and he really knew what he was talking about. It was just bizarre. I should have been saying to them 'What about that goal?' but they just wanted to ask me about my case."
"My mum and dad had told me what everyone was doing for me back home, but because of the treatment I was getting over there I didn't believe it. It first hit me watching the Liverpool v Sunderland game the season after Istanbul, and the 'Free Michael' mosaic was held up right across the Kop with my name on it.
"They showed it on Bulgarian telly and I'm sitting there trying to take it in, saying to a Bulgarian fella, 'Look, that's me, that's me'. He didn't get it either."
Before travelling to Istanbul for the Champions League final, the quiet teenager from Edge Hill had qualified as a railway maintenance engineer and was ready to start a job, and build his adult life.
"I'm more street-wise than I was. But most of all it's taught me that you shouldn't take little things for granted, like playing footie with your nephew. It's taught me that you should just be there for them, because you never know what is going to happen."
Michael Shields: My Story, priced £8.99, will be on general sale this month. To pre-order a copy call 0845 143 0001 or log on to www.merseyshop.com
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/09/11/exclusive-michael-shields-support-made-me-proud-of-liverpool-115875-21664742/
_________________
'There is no need to reinvent the game. People think they can reinvent it, no chance.' |
|
Fri Sep 11, 2009 8:26 pm |
|
|
| | |
 
|
|
All times are GMT + 1 Hour. The time now is Sun May 19, 2013 8:19 pm
|
|
|
|
|
