Mother collapses as Jack Straw rejects pardon for LFC fan Michael Shields
“Michael received an email in prison today telling him his pardon had been refused, but he does not know the reason why.
“I don’t know how much more we can take as a family.
“One minute we are expecting him to be pardoned and released, then the next minute all our hopes are dashed.
“All I can say is that Michael, his family and all the campaigners are absolutely heartbroken today.”
Mr Shields’s mother, Marie, said: “I just can’t believe it – it’s a disgrace”.
Family solicitor John Wheate vowed to fight on.
“To get a pardon, you have to get a higher degree of certainty, and I think that’s what they’re talking about.
“If we’ve got a further 28 days to make representations, then we will definitely do that.
“I have been in this line of work for 37 years and this lad is as innocent as you and me.”
Labour leader Cllr Joe Anderson, a key campaigner for Shields, said the decision left him “ashamed to be a member of the Labour Party”.
