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Jailed Shields 'returning to UK' Jailed football fan on way to UK
(20 minutes later)
Liverpool football fan Michael Shields, jailed in Bulgaria for the attempted murder of a barman, is expected to return to the UK on Thursday.Liverpool football fan Michael Shields, jailed in Bulgaria for the attempted murder of a barman, is expected to return to the UK on Thursday.
His MP, Louise Ellman, said Shields was expected to fly in to Gatwick airport to complete his sentence in a UK jail.His MP, Louise Ellman, said Shields was expected to fly in to Gatwick airport to complete his sentence in a UK jail.
Shields is serving 10 years for the attempted murder of the barman in 2005. He has always denied any involvement. Shields was given 10 years after a concrete block was dropped on the barman in 2005. He has always denied any involvement.
Bulgarian authorities have allowed the 20-year-old from Edge Hill to return to the UK after a £90,000 fine was paid. 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.Shields' solicitor told the BBC his client is flying back to the UK and would be taken to Wandsworth Prison.
He 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. If it wasn't for the majority of people helping us we would never have been able to bring Michael home Maria Shields, mother
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.
"Nineteen months is a long time for something that he did not commit."
Mrs Shields thanked the people of Liverpool and around the country 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.
Written confession
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.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.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. 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.