Liverpool soccer fan Michael Shields, who was jailed for 15 years in Bulgaria in 2005 for an attack on a barman, was pardoned today by Justice Secretary Jack Straw.
The 22-year-old was convicted of the attempted murder of Bulgarian Martin Georgiev in the resort of Varna when violence flared after Liverpool's victory in the Champions League final.
Shields was originally sentenced to 15 years in prison, but had his term reduced to 10 on appeal. In 2006 he was returned to England to serve out the remainder of his sentence.
Mr Straw said in a statement that a decision was made to release him after "important new evidence came to light" during a meeting in August with the Shields family who have campaigned for his release.
At the meeting, Mr Straw was told for the first time about a visit by two members of the Shields family to the home of a man they believed to be responsible for the crime.
"I was told that in the course of the visit that man made an oral confession to the crime in front of several other people," Mr Straw said. "This episode, I was told, happened on 22 July 2005, a day after the start of Mr Shields' trial in Bulgaria."
"When looked at alongside all the previously available evidence, (it) has now satisfied me that Mr Shields meets the high test set by the court."
Shields had applied for a free pardon under the Royal Prerogative of mercy, which was initially rejected.
That decision was challenged in a judicial review, but in July Mr Straw turned down his application for a free pardon. However, Mr Straw said at the time it was a provisional decision.