Jailed soccer fans freed from Italian jail

8:22am Saturday 3rd May 2008

FOUR Manchester United football fans have been released from an Italian jail after an appeal hearing in Rome.

Among them was Michael Burk, aged 35, from Little Hulton, who was sentenced to two years and five months in prison last December following fights between rival supporters before the Champions League game with Roma.

He had been jailed for violent behaviour and resisting arrest, along with three other United fans: Kyle Dillon, aged 23, Richard Wimmer, aged 39, and Nicholas Lucas, aged 18.

All four were freed at an appeal hearing yesterday after being presented with a deal by the public prosecutor.

They each pleaded guilty to resisting arrest and accepted 16-month suspended sentences in return for immediate release and having two other charges dropped.

Mr Burk's family and friends had been campaigning for his release with the support of Worsley MP Barbara Keeley.

Ms Keeley said: "I have campaigned on this issue since I found out all the problems with the representation and trial process of Michael Burk. I felt it was a wrongful conviction.

"I am pleased that my constituent has now received a fair hearing and has won back his freedom."

The MP had been concerned about the shortened trial procedure following the fans' arrest and the lack of a court interpreter for Mr Burk.

She recently raised the case in the Commons with the Europe Minister, Jim Murphy.

Mr Burk's partner, Carmon Ducker, had lobbied MPs during a trip to London last month. His fiancee had also written to football celebrities to enlist their help.

Italian media claimed the four men had been part of a group of 20 United supporters who had caused trouble in Rome that night.

Fighting was broken up with two baton charges by riot police. Five United fans were stabbed during the incident.

Greater Manchester Police had provided "spotters" to work with Italian police outside the Stadio Olimpico, but there were conflicting reports as to whether they had correctly identified the four men as troublemakers.

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