Micheal Sheilds is an innocent young man, you did not make it clear that Micheal did not know any of the other people on trial , he was not apart of the group that committed the terrible crime. Micheal Shields has been made a scapegoat by your country. The man who did this I am ashamed to say is from Liverpool and his name is GRAHAM SANKEY. Your police arrested and let Sankey go home in the early stages of the arrest, so they needed someone and they picked on a young man who comes from a lovely family, he has never ever been in trouble in his life. Graham Sankey is an animal and has been heard boasting to people how he smashed the poor barman over the head with a slab. You must get Micheal Sheilds free as it will be proven that he is innocent ,but before then what damage have you done to him and his life.His mother is now seriously ill with all this and his family are destroyed. But let me tell you and I promise you this that we will march to Bulgaria if nessery as everyone here wants Micheal home and Graham Sankey in jail. A high demonstartion is about to take place. Bulgaria wants people to visit, I dont think now you will get decent hard working people to go to your country as the same thing may happen to thier children that happened to Micheal Shields.He was dragged from his bed on the night, he was asleep, witnesses have sworn to this, but oh no you wanted a scapegoat and you chose a poor terrified innocent 18yr old. May god forgive you all, and may God help poor Micheal Shields. Print this in your Echo if you dare !!!!!!

This seems to be a terrible miscarriage of justice! I can only condemn the actions of these hooligans they sicken myself and the people of Liverpool and must be brought to justice. But if this is an innocent man locked up in a foreign jail while another man brags about the crime, something must be done. Please take it upon yourselves as a responsible news portal to investigate and help sort out this terrible situation. We can all imagine how we would feel if it was our child in this situation. You have a moral responsibilty to investigate this as a world news site.

How dare you print this fairytale story. You have an innocent boy in your prison serving a 15 year sentence for a crime he did not commit. How can you tell this story and yet you know he is innocent and another man has addmitted he was responsible for this crime GRAHAM SANKEY. You wanted someone to pay for this crime and thats exactly what you have done made an innocent boy pay. How you people can sleep at night is beyond me. You have ripped a loving family apart they are in peices over this. But they will not be beaten and will fight this all the way untill Michael is back in the loving arms of his family. me that poor boy and his fa

i am a Maltese citizen and thus nuetral. It seems that justice in Bulgaria does not work as in the rest of Europe.Until then I solicit my compatriots as Patrick said not to visit Bulgaria. Bulgarians work in my country and are well treated and have the same rights to justice as all other citizens. We do not jail innocents to make a show.

I am a Bulgarian and I'd like to express my point on the issue. Firstly, I do not think anybody here supports penalty over the innocent. It would be a terrible injustice to sentence one innocent man. But there is something else I do not understand- why did Sankey confess his guilt but is unwilling to face a trial? If he is so brave to take his responsiblity why does ho do it only half way? You should not forget, as well, that one man was seriously injured, almost killed. Doesn't he deserve justice for what has been done? I am sure that Bulgarian court will reconsider its decision and require the detention of Skankey. But I do not think extradition procedures are that easy to set in motion. Our country is not dictatorial and I do not think the police intentionally looked for a scapegoat in the case. A terrible crime has been committed and the doers have to face the consequences of their actions.

In view of continuing political unrest in the Bulgarian parliament, and the questionable verdict regarding Michael Shields imprisonment, Southern Comfit is suspending indefinately all sales of Bulgarian properties. Through its internet newsletter, The Whistleblower, it will be informing the UK and European homes abroad industry of its decision. It will furthermore suggest that those companies trading in the Bulgarian market consider whether their continuing to do so is in the best interests of their clients.

In response to BG GIRL. I agree a terrible crime has been committed and the poor man who was assaulted nearly died and someone should pay for the crime. GRAHAM SANKEY should be arrested and forced to stand trial in bulgaria and face what ever faces him. But Michael Sheilds should not have to pay for a crime he did not commit. Everyone thinks Michael was friends with the 2 lads who were also on trial for fighting after the football match but they were GRAHAM SANKEYS friends poor Michael did not know any of these men he was just unfortunately staying in the same hotel this is a case of wrong place at the wrong time. HELP US TO FREE MICHAEL SHEILDS HE IS INNOCENT

Be careful !!! this boy comes from Liverpool... where Tonys wife comes from and therefore he must be innocent. He will go back to the UK or you lot will not join to the EU... beleive me the Liverpool mafia rule the UK Government...

Look some guy was nearly killed in a very cowardly act. If he had died who would explain what to that mans child ( Tony Blair, Jack Straw or even Cherie) no wonder the Bulgarians gave a 15 year sentance. If GRAHAM SANKEY has admitted to this act then he should firstly admit he was wrong for Bulagarian TV and then go back to Bulagaria too face the music . The UK Labour government for its part should admit that what the Bulgarians do with him is a matter for them. What sentance would Graham Sankey get if put on trial in the UK 200 hours community service and a course in anger management (Now that is justice yeh). English people get off your high horses and also stop being so politically correct, your warped sense of justice allows known terrorists to reside in London.(the perpitrators of the Beslan Masacre)

I would imagine what would be the reaction of those people if a drunk and drugged Bulgarian from Varna smashes the head of an English guy from Liverpool. I mean the guy needs several operations in order to get back to normal. A part of his skull is missing and he may well remain handicapped for the rest of his life. There is no argument that Mr.Shields was absolutely drunk and drugged when he was arrested according to the blood samples. He was also recognised by several ( not only one ) witness. I would guess any court in Britain would not judge otherwise if these evidence was in place. If there is a case of mistaken identity then Mr. Sankey should have made his evidence in writing, otherwise it is unrecognisable according to both Bulgarian and English Law. It means nothing. I have my doubts regarding Stankey's "confession" since it was made only now. Why he would have made that confession - out of pity - i very much doubt that! More likely i would say the lad was either "persuaded" by Mr. Shields's friends and relatives or money have come into the game. If he is really guilty he should have either taken the first plane to Bulgaria or at least made his confession in writing. Now it means nothing.

CARRA DEDICATES GOAL TO MICHAEL SHIELDS Paul Rogers 27 July 2005 Jamie Carragher today dedicated his first goal in over six years to Michael Shields, the Liverpool supporter jailed for 15 years in Bulgaria for a crime somebody else has claimed responsibility for. Shields, from Wavertree, has protested his innocence ever since being charged by Bulgarian police with the attempted murder of waiter Martin Georgiev in the aftermath of Liverpool's Champions League final victory and despite another man delivering a sworn statement admitting he committed the attack, the 18-year-old was found guilty and sentenced to 15 years in prison on Tuesday. For Carragher, Liverpool's undisputed Player of the Year last season, news of the verdict came as a massive shock to both himself and Steven Gerrard, who had followed the trial even while away on Champions League duty in Lithuania. "We got a phone call with the news on Tuesday but we've been aware of what's being going on throughout the whole trial," Carragher told liverpoolfc.tv. "There was a banner about Michael at the TNS game in the last round and what's happened with the verdict was in our minds on Tuesday night. "If I'd have known I was going to score against Kaunas I would have worn a t-shirt under my Liverpool shirt with Michael's name on it. I want to dedicate that goal to Michael Shields and all his family who are suffering so badly right now. "When we got the news that he'd not only be found guilty for a crime he didn't commit but actually been sentenced to 15 years, our hearts sank. For myself, Steven [Gerrard] and the other local lads in the team, it really hit us. He's one of us; a young lad who went to a game to watch Liverpool and ended up being thrown in prison in a foreign country. He must be absolutely distraught at what's happened just as everyone in Liverpool is. He should have been here in Lithuania cheering us on but instead he's locked up. Me and Stevie are heartbroken for the lad because it's obviously an injustice. "I'm not sure how the justice system works in Bulgaria but hopefully something can be done about this case. I think somebody very high up in the government - possibly even Tony Blair himself - should step in and fight Michael's corner because what has happened is wrong. There is a lad in Liverpool who has owned up to the crime and admitted it was him and not Michael Shields who is the guilty one. "I know there is a lot going on around the country right now with everyone working overtime to prevent any more terrorist activity but I really do think someone from very high up in the government needs to get involved in this case. "I won't pretend to know how Michael must feel right now but I've got kids of my own and I can imagine how his parents must feel seeing their son locked up for a crime they know he didn't commit. If it was my kid, I'd be in pieces. We're not giving up hope though. We know he's innocent and we're sure that someone from the government will step in to make sure justice gets done."

no per la bulgaria in europa.Quello che avete fatto ghal supporter di liverpool sinifica che siete u paese dove non c'e giustizia. LIBERTA SUBITO

I am an australian and i have fond memories of bulgaria but i must adnit i am a bit shocked about the recent verdist re liverpool fan. It seem like the normal balkan tit for tat. Hope the innocent man will be given liberty. It is not his fault to be in the wromg place at the wrong time.In australia we received a letter to boycott bulgarian goods and many are abiding already with letterson manstream newspapers.Bulgaria police please note

Unless we were there no-one knows for sure what really happened. Hopefully the truth and justice will win out in the end . For all parties. However I travel between UK and Sofia frequently and the bias of each country in reporting the news is unblanced. More so in Bulgaria. In the Bulgaria TV no mention was made about the confession.

Ashamed to live in Bulgaria. it seems we are moving the clock back by 20 years never heard of any connfession on our media. Thank you Sofia Echo

To clarify in the UK press another Britsih guy confessed to the horrible crime and the Bulgarian courts said his confession was not admissible

I hope this young man is set free soon!It is also important to note that if some Bulgarian wacked a liverputian over the head with a brick in Liverpool and almost killed him, then some other Bulgarian says to his lawyer in Bulgaria that he did it the day before the verdict... I don't think the Bulgarian would be on the first plane back to Sofia. The wheels of justice grind slow but true...have faith Michael!!!!

Everytime I see the picture of Micheal Shields being led away by the bulgarian police It brings a lump to my throat,It is just beyond belief that a innocent person can be treated so badly and this ordeal is something that will haunt him for the rest of his life.Graham Sankey is a coward its all very well signing a writen confession but its no good when your in one country and the wrongly accused is in a foreign prison in another! How can he sleep at night? I just hope that Micheal is freed soon so he and his family can try and move on from this nightmare.

How dare you threatening a whole country and blackmailing us? If Michael Shields is innocent he will be free, don't worry. The thing pisses me off the most is that everybody is so concerned with the fact that an innocent man is in jail and nobody cares that there is a guy out there that almost killed somebody and the British police HELPED HIM AND HIS FAMILY HIDE? Why don't we look at that just for a second and stop turning this into political war? I have no doubt that Michael will be freed if he is innocent. But are you going to be so outspoken about extraditing the real perpetrator? Are you going to care the same what happens to him just like you care about Michael? I really doubt it. I have a suspicion that once Michael goes home, this will all go in oblivion and that's a shame.

I am a Bulgarian citizen and a Student if Medicine at the Westfalian-Wilhelms University of Muenster, living in Germany. I studied in details and all the available information and I watched the news, published in internet by foreign und by Bulgarian news agencies. I would like to ask all these people, writing without knowing the facts what would they do and write, if a British citizen was so badly injured by a Bulgarian in London for example? No one would have any doubts about the guiltiness of the Bulgarian. What happened in Varna? A couple of English football hooligans have stoned almost to death a Bulgarian waiter, trying to do his job at the wonderful Black Sea coast. I am deeply disappointed of the prejudiced way of thinking of the British participants in this forum. The sentenced man has confessed before the court that he was the cause of it. I do not think that the British citizens have immunity against the laws in other countries only because of their origin. The person must be sentenced according to the laws of the country, where the crime is being committed. I remember a plenty of other cases, where foreign tourists were responsible for the death of Bulgarian citizens. They have only bought a flight ticket and they live now happy in their state. There is no justice when the criminal is allowed to live the country, because the motherland would never to put on trial his own citizen, that has done something in a not EU-State. So simple is it! Some years ago, a German tourist in Bourgas, riding on his water scooter killed 4 Bulgarians in the swimming area of the beach. No trial. No justice. He lives in Germany happy and the families have lost 4 innocent lives. Another case. A Greek citizen killed two years ago in the near of Sliven with his Mercedes, driving with 180 km/h on the way, where only 70 allowed were, 2 Bulgarians. He lives happy in Greece now. No justice. No trial. Another case. An American kills in Sofia driving his jeep a Bulgarian. His passport was confiscated by the police. On the same day the American Embassy in Sofia printed a new passport and the American leaves the country. No justice. No trial. The football hooligan must remain behind prison bars, no matter of his origin. Because one of the principles of the justice is that we are all equal in the eye of the law.

To Phil Williams All the national TV-Channels in Bulgaria said about the confesion of the second British citizen in the UK. You'd better not say anything when you do not have the deatils. I watched the news the last 4 days. They showed even an interview with the hooligan.

Bulgaria needs to sort this mess out. I work in a supermarket in Ireland and wll make sure that all the people I work with with will know what has gone on in your country. Will also boycot any of your products that we sell and not handle them. Free Shields!

How can any one agree with this SHEILDS was made to wear clothes he didnt have on for the ID parade. 15 witnesses say it was SHEILDS and we all know he is INNOCENT. To ask Graham SANKEY to go and face trial in BULGARIA is ludracris. Will they find another 15 witnesses saying it was sankey, also how do we know the bartender didnt start it? because all we have is LIES, LIES, LIES. 1 INNOCENT man serving 15 years and another not gonna be given the chance of a fair trial. IT STINKS I JUST HOPE LFC FANS NEVER HAVE TO GO TO bULGARIA AGAIN. FREE MICHEAL SHEILDS AND GIVE GRAHAM SANKEY A FAIR TRIAL

set micheal sheilds free!!!

Just because Michael is English doesn`t mean he is above the law.A Bulgarian judge is as wise as most UK judges. It seems as though Liverpool has a better football team than Bulgaria that that the fans have some kind of diplomatic immunity.Bye-the-way some of the fans spelling has been atrocious so far.Learn to respect other countries laws and you will stay out of jail...ect.

Michael DID obey your laws! He was a tourist enjoying a holiday! Micheal being innocent is paramount here! He nor no-one sees him as above the law. No one is! But he is innocent! Bulgarian judges may be as asteemed as UK judges but on this occasion there was misjustice! Your court got it wrong! Simple fact! Your comments about football and punctuation/spelling errors are ridiculous and needless! You are dumbing down a travesty! Who gives a damn about spelling errors when Michael is sat in a cell. Do you think he cares about grammar???? No! Justice must be served! Nothing should go unpunished! The man who did this deserves everything he gets! Everything! But over all, Micheal should go free!!!!

What makes you guys THAAAT DEAF AND BLIND NO QUESTION OR DOUBT SURE that Michael is truly innocent? What is it that you know for SURE that makes you so certain? What do you know about the issue that you haven't heard from the media? What are we supposed to do? He'll have an appeal and if he's innocent he'll go. *Stop insulting my country you dweeds*

as a person who knows how the bulgarian justice systerm works i was amased that any one thought micheal would be releast. i have been through that systerm and no it dont matter to the bulgarians who commited the crime they have some one and that does for them.it dont matter who tryes to help micheal the bulgarians will not take any notice.even if our gouvement try to help him it wont make any dif.but thats if they do try to help him.in my case i was tryed and convicted of drug smuggling even though i never did it and there was no evidence against me and the fact the police over here sent a letter the the bulgarian court telling them i was an inocent person they still found me guilty.on my behalf my family did every thing they could to help me. they did interviews with the papers and t.v poeple and did demostations out side the bulgarian embassyall of witch was like water of a ducks back.i had a document that was translated to english from the court saying it dont matter who commited the crime some one has to pay.i no micheal is waiting for another appeal that is said to take about two months to come through if thats the case micheal is luckyer than i was cause my apeals took months.from the day i was arested to the time of my last court hearing was 3 years 9 months but that was cause i went through the court system twice as the first of my last appeals the court said the first court made 8 mistakes so i have to go through the whole thing again. if the guy who says he was the one who did it went to the court to admit it was him and not micheal who did it would not be a garentee that micheal would be releast or even found innocent. once u have been found guilty thats it.one thing that most people wont no is when the judge retires to make there dicition they sit in a room the with the person who is prosicuting u to discus wat the sentence will be .now theres no way u can have a fair trial in thoese circomstances. i wish micheal and his family all the luck in the world and hope thing have changed there so he can be home with his family soon

i have been reading some of the coments on this web page and started laughing when one person said the bulgarian judges r the same or simular as english judes . this person everdentley have not seen a bulgarian judge. the ones i had when i was there were not exspeareance in any way they were not old enough to have any exspeareance the oldest judge i went before was 28 , and any one can become a jude in bulgaria all they need to do is learn about the law then ignor it when making a disition about a pertson inocence or there guilt

justice and a fair trial for Michael...

In my opinion 15 years sentence for PREMIDIATED ATTEMPTED MURDER is not sufficient! The Bulgarian Authorities ought to make clear that the British huligans should learn to behave as civilised people when they are in Bulgaria. I used to live in London and i was treated as a second class citizen JUST because i told them that i was born in Bulgaria. They were trowing cigarettes on me and burned my cloths. The British Huligans think that just because they are British the whole world should be their underling. In the future i will recomend before Immigration officers in Varna allow them to enter the country,they should check their criminal history with the British Ambassy in Sofia.

Sankey does not have any right to appear in front of a British court for the simple reason that it does NOT HAVE A JURISDICTION! I studied German,American,Australian Criminal Laws and everywhere the law says that VENUE is the location where the criminal offense took place. If Sankey(British citizen) commited the premidiated attempted murder in VARNA,Bulagaria then ONLY A BULGARIAN DISTRICT COURT(Criminal division) has a juristdiction.

MICHAEL IS THE INNOCENT ONE AND SANKEY the low life scum bag is the GUILTY ONE. michael should off been home in liverpool along time ago.SANKEY should get is big fat ugly arse back to bulgaria so michael can be freed. SANKEY you cannot hide for the rest off your life scum bag. so why dont you end this nightmare for MICHAEL AND HIS FAMILY.so SANKEY YOU DONE THE CRIME BE A MAN AND DO YOUR TIME.SCUM BAG instead off letting an innocent man do it for you.lets face it MICHAEL has already done 12 months off your sentence for you.So do somethink good for once in your life and get over there and do the rest of your sentence YOURSELF S**T BAG.why should you have your freedom while a INNOCENT MAN is doing 15 years for a crime that you admitted YOU DONE. AND YOU SAY YOUR A SCOUSER i dont think so coz a true scouser would not do that to one of his own.I dont know how you can sleep at night knowing what you have put this innocent man and his loving family through. SO we think its about time you got yourself on the plane back to bulgaria because you are not welcome in liverpool anymore and you call yourself a scouser... SCOUSER MY ARSE...MICHAEL THINKING ABOUT YOU ALWAYS BABE WE KNOW YOUR INNOCENT LAD KEEP YOUR CHIN UP YOU,LL NEVER WALK ALONE AND HOLD YOUR HEAD UP HIGH BABE COZ YOU HAVE DONE NOTHING WRONG.....FREE MICHAEL SHEILDS HE IS INNOCENT ....SANKEY YOU LOW LIFE SCUM BAG .........

FREE MICHAEL SHEILDS HE IS INNOCENT ...............SANKEY IS THE GUILTY ONE THE LOW LIFE SCUM BAG

First of all to the arse hole who calls himself harry potter if you cannot put your own name at the top of your comment s**t bag dont bother sending your comments. and as for your silly comments about are football club LIVERPOOL ARE SIMPLY THE BEST AND ARE THE BEST TEAM EVER so put that in your pipe and smoke it. You were going on about people spelling who do you think you are MR PERFECT well your not so keep your silly comments to yourself. OH and use your OWN name next time shit bag.......FREE MICHAEL SHEILDS .....HE IS INNOCENT .........SANKEY IS THE GUILTY ONE .......YOU,LL NEVER WALK ALONE MICHAEL STAY STRONG BABE. THINKING ABOUT YOU ALWAYS LUV KATHRYN XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX LIVERPOOL ARE THE BEST TEAM IN THE WORLD XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

let MichealSheilds free, he has been in prison for 15years soon he might die i am a Liverpool player and he soports me, i will do anything to let him out. kind regards Steven

Wat can i say i think this whole case against micheal sheilds is false the bulgarian courts haven't even given this poor INNOCENT lad a fair trial as soon as GRAHAM SANKEY admitted to the crime he should have been sent straight to bulgaria to stand trial but no you sentenced a poor INNOCENT lad to 15 years ( what a joke )

I was heartbroken lastnight watching Tonight with Trevor MacDonald, my thoughts are with Michael and his friends & family. I hope his home soon. x

I also watched the trevor mcdonald documentary and am completly amazed as how ,with all the new evidence micheal is still in prison. My hopes and prayers are with micheals family today i really hope he is granted a re-trial,then maybe he will get the justice he deserves and will be set free. To the family, we have the best football club and supporters in the world and im sure were all behind you.

after watching trevor mcdonald on tv i was disgusted with this sankey bloke i think he is a total scum bag letting a inocent young lad like micheal do his time my heart goes out to micheals parents im a parent to 2 teenagers they must be going throw hell but rememeber the full country are all your side micheal keep your chin up mate justice will be done with love from one parent 2 another xxxxx

I am very upset about the Micheal Shields case i have watched everything about it on TV and read everything about it in news papers but there doesnt seem to be anything about it since the 21st of april he was waiting to here for a re-tril as anybody heard anything please U'LL NEVER WALK ALONE MICHEAL lots of love from sue