In the summer of 2005 a Liverpool FC football supporter named Michael Shields was in Bulgaria celebrating Liverpool’s win. He was arrested and found guilty of attempted murder of a Bulgarian man. Although he was innocent and after somebody else had confessed to the crime in the presence of many people, he was still placed in gaol for fifteen years. That was commuted to ten years a little later. After serving two and a half years in Bulgaria he was allowed to complete his sentence back in an English gaol. Today he was given a Royal Pardon by the British Government and he is now free. However, a pardon does not mean that his name has been cleared from any wrongdoing but it is a step in the right direction. I wish him and his family the best during these happier days and hope true justice will be served in due course.
It is so sad that this sort of thing can so easily happen, especially in a foreign country where the laws are different. How many more incidences like this are played out unnoticed with the accused remaining in gaol when they are innocent?
Shirley Anne
