How Significant Is The Campaign To Free Michael Shields?

As of October 2006, 20-year-old Liverpool FC supporter Michael Shields is still serving a ten-year sentence for an attack on a Bulgarian barman in May 2005. It is a crime which he strongly denies, claiming he was in bed at the time of his attack. The campaign to free the engineering student from jail in Bulgaria is significant, particularly on Merseyside. More than 28,000 people have signed a petition to free him and many others have lent their support in other ways. As well as his family and friends, Michael's supporters include his MP, Louise Ellman, the Bishop of Liverpool and actor Ricky Tomlinson. Even Prime Minister Tony Blair has said Michael's conviction is unsafe. He has also received backing from many associated with Liverpool FC, most notably, Jaime Carragher. The Free Michael Shields campaign regularly holds fundraising events, to help the family raise money to cope with the £71,000 fine also issued to Shields.