It's wrong that a young man will be in jail for 10 years when there is a question mark over his guilt. But that's our law . . .A TOP Bulgarian diplomat has admitted that the plight of Reds fan Michael Shields is a"tragedy".
But Stanislav Daskalov, ambassador to the European Parliament in Brussles, said that even if Michael is innocent of the attempted murder of a local barman, the law has taken its course - and the debate was over.
The extraordinary admission was made in a meeting with Merseyside Euro MP Arlene McCarthy and aides.
Today she told the ECHO: "Clearly the Bulgarian authorities are deeply embarrassed at the coverage this case has been given, particularly at a time when Bulgaria is about to join the European Union. They are hiding behind judicial process in a bid to show that their legal system is fair and transparent."
She asked Mr Daskalov whether he was happy with the Supreme Court's final sentence of 10 years and fines and costs amounting to £71,000, and its refusal to accept new evidence and witnesses pointing to Michael's innocence.
He replied: "I agree this is a tragic case but the legal process has been gone through and that is that.
"I agree it might be wrong that a young man will be in jail for 10 years when there is a question mark over his guilt. But our legal system has found him guilty and we all have to accept that as the reality of this case."
Michael was found guilty of attempted murder in his original trial and at the subsequent Supreme Court appeal after both courts refused to take into account new alibi evidence and the signed confession of another Merseysider, Graham Sankey, that he was the attacker.
The Shields family has now launched an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights.
In the meantime Bulgaria has signalled that Michael can serve the rest of his sentence in a British prison . . . but only if the fine and costs are paid first.
Ms McCarthy said: "The Shields family simply don't have the money to do that, nor can they afford to keep flying to Bulgaria to see Michael and his legal team."
She is now aiming to raise the cash through a public appeal, or through a loan from one or more rich Merseyside businessmen.
"We are making calls to see whether the money needed can be held in trust while the European Court appeal goes through," she said.
In the meantime Ms McCarthy and Riverside MP Louise Ellman are seeking further meeting on the case with new Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett and Europe minister Geoff Hoon, both of whom has said they support Michael's bid for justice.
Ms McCarthy also said that Tony Blair's support for Michael's appeal, revealed in the ECHO last month, could be a "breakthrough."