These are abridged versions of two commentaries that appeared in today's UK press in response to justice secretary Jack Straw's decision to pardon Michael Shields, the Liverpool fan jailed in Bulgaria after being convicted of attacking Martin Georgiev.

The Times

Russell Jenkins

As recently as July 2 Mr Straw delivered what appeared to be a devastating setback when he declined to grant a pardon because he was not persuaded of Mr Shields’ innocence.

His legal team appeared bemused yesterday by Mr Straw’s explanation. John Weate, Mr Shields’ barrister, suggested that the new evidence highlighted by Mr Straw was "corroborative" rather than fresh. He said: "We have at all stages submitted as compelling a case on his behalf as possible. We do not want to get into some kind of spat with the Secretary of State but if he finds some piece of evidence as important, that is fine with us."

It is known that Mr Straw had been subjected to political pressure from Brendan Barber, leader of the TUC. At one stage Michael Shields Sr threatened to stand in opposition to Mr Straw in his Blackburn constituency.

Mr Shields’ lawyers say that in effect Mr Straw had the evidence to issue a pardon at his disposal for many months but prolonged their client’s prison stay for no good reason. They appear unconvinced by Mr Straw’s apparent change of heart, which came at a time when the campaign was moving into the political arena during party conference season.

It has yet to be decided whether Mr Shields will pursue the campaign to have his conviction quashed in the Bulgarian courts.


The Daily Mail

Richard Littlejohn

I can't see how an alleged oral confession during a private meeting with the Shields family trumps a written admission of guilt issued through a lawyer.

If there is fresh evidence then I'm sure the Bulgarians would like to hear it, too.

If it incriminates Graham Sankey, then Bulgaria should be informed and encouraged to seek an extradition order so they can put him on trial for attempted murder.

Mr Shields has the right to have his name cleared in open court.

There would be no reason for him to spend another moment behind bars. He could have been released on his own recognisance until a court could be convened.

Please don't think I'm insinuating that he may be guilty. It's just that the way in which this has been handled is deeply unsatisfactory.

Whenever there's something murky involving this Government, the dead hand of Jolly Jack Straw is never far away.

Was there a political calculation behind this decision? Is the Bishop of Liverpool an Anglican?

Michael Shields's father had threatened to stand against Straw in Blackburn at the next General Election unless his son was released.

In Liverpool, the LibDems control the council and are aggressively targeting Labour's parliamentary seats. Louise Ellman, LibDem MP for Liverpool Riverside, has been prominent in the Free Michael Shields movement.

Local hero Steven Gerrard has been a strong supporter of the campaign, which has united Liverpool and Everton fans alike and become a cause celebre on Merseyside.

Labour certainly wouldn't have wanted this case hanging over them at the next election.

Straw can't have relished the embarrassment of a challenge from an emotional father over the imprisonment of his son for a crime he didn't commit.

But there's always the small matter of due process. Despite his pardon, Mr Shields's conviction for attempted murder in Bulgaria still stands.

The barman who was almost killed has a right to know the identity of his assailant. If it was Graham Sankey, he deserves to be tried in a Bulgarian court and punished.