Jack Straw refuses Michael Shields' appeal for pardon

Justice Secretary Jack Straw today refused an appeal for a pardon by jailed football fan Michael Shields.

Shields was jailed for 15 years in Bulgaria in 2005 for the attempted murder of a barman following Liverpool FC's European Cup victory in Turkey.

In a provisional decision, Mr Straw was unable to conclude the 22-year-old was "morally and technically innocent", a Ministry of Justice spokesman said.

Liverpool city councillor Joe Anderson, who has spearheaded the drive to free the Reds fan, said: "We have only just heard and I am on my way to see Michael's parents to discuss it.

"We're still taking in the news."

The Ministry of Justice said a High Court judgment in December last year set a "very high" bar for granting what is known as a free pardon.

A spokesman said: "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 Justice Secretary recognises, of course, that many will be disappointed by his decision. But in exercising this quasi-judicial function he has adopted the approach that the Court expected him to adopt."

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said Mr Straw had made a "detailed and careful consideration of all the relevant evidence".

He said Mr Straw had written to Shields today to give him a "full explanation" of the reasons for his decision.

Shields can make further representations to the Justice Secretary, after which he will make a final decision.

Despite another man confessing to the attack, Shields was locked up for 10 years.

He was transferred to the UK to serve the remainder of his sentence, and is currently held at HMP Haverigg in Cumbria.

But he maintains his innocence and his supporters have continued their fight for his release.

Mr Shields' father, Michael senior, was furious that his son was deemed by the Justice Secretary not to be "morally and technically innocent".

Mr Shields said, despite being assured by the Prime Minister that the family and his son's lawyer would be written to, Michael Jnr was the only one to receive the news, alone in his cell.

He said: "I just cannot believe the way he (Jack Straw) has done this.

"They sent the letter straight to Michael alone in jail and not to his lawyer.

"I don't know what I am going to do.

"We are going to have to discuss our next step.

"I think we have 28 days to try to convince them they're wrong.

"Michael's just absolutely distraught."

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 Ministry of Justice has written to Mr Shields today to convey this decision.

"The letter to Mr Shields provides a full explanation of the reasons for the Justice Secretary's provisional decision.

"Mr Straw has made his decision in accordance with the High Court judgment of December 17 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. The judgment stated: 'In principle... the grant of a free pardon would appear to require a conclusion that, taking the Bulgarian courts' judgment for what it is and without calling in question its correctness on the material which those courts considered, fresh evidence which the Bulgarian courts did not consider, taken with the material which they did consider and their judgment upon it justifies a conclusion that Michael Shields is 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 Justice Secretary recognises, of course, that many will be disappointed by his decision. But in exercising this quasi-judicial function, he has adopted the approach that the court expected him to adopt.

"Mr Shields can now submit any further representations he may want to make, after which the Justice Secretary will make a final decision on the evidence before him."