News

| Submit CommentSubmit Comments | View CommentsView Comments(2)

advertisement

Joy as jailed United fan freed from Italian jail


7/ 5/2008

A TEENAGE football fan from Whaley Bridge has returned home after spending four months in an Italian prison.

Nick Lukacs, 18, was jailed last December after his first ever holiday abroad - a trip to Rome to watch Manchester United play Roma - ended in disaster.

He was sent to prison along with three other United fans after allegedly becoming caught up in football violence before the match.

Nick became the focus of an international freedom campaign by his family and MP, who insist the two year and four month prison sentence was unfair and disproportional.

But on Friday (May 2) he pleaded guilty to resisting arrest in exchange for an early release - although his family still insist he is innocent and should never have had to admit to the offence.

His mum Anna told the Express: "Obviously we are delighted with the outcome in that he is home. We were advised by our lawyers to go with this and we did want him to come home.

"There seemed to be no way out and that’s why we decided to plead guilty on that count."

Nick was sentenced with three other United fans - Michael Burke, Richard Wimmer and Kyle Dillon - after clashes with the notorious Roma Ultras on the Ponte Duca D’Aosta bridge, a flashpoint that police had asked visiting fans to avoid.

His family claim he was forced to face a very quick trial with limited evidence, and that now he has a criminal record he may be unable to return to his job in a law firm.

While in jail the teenager received support both from his fellow United fans and from his local MP, Tom Levitt, who took part in a parliamentary debate on the subject and visited Nick in prison.

Mr Levitt said: "This was Nick’s first trip abroad and I hope his experience will not prevent him from future travel or from supporting Manchester United.

"The way the Italian police and court authorities handled this case leaves much to be desired.But for now we must celebrate the fact that four families who should never gave been separated in this way have now been reunited."


| Submit CommentSubmit Comments | View CommentsView Comments(2)


Most recent 2 of 2 user comments

   Told not to go to the bridge so went. They should have kept the 4 in Italy as it kind of ruins the 'Staying in Rome' song. Still while you were away City collected 3 points at the Swamp. Forza City.
Ken Adams, Stockport
8/05/2008 at 21:18
   Let us hope this "fan" has learnt a lesson. We don't want this type of "fan" in Italy, whatever team they support or whatever their nationality. He was arrested in an area which the police has stated was a no-go zone for fans. The Italian police and courts don't pussyfoot around like their UK equivelant.
chris rigby
7/05/2008 at 12:09
Have your say
 
Have your say Got an opinion you want to share?
Register now and have your comments heard.

Register now

Latest stories
 

 
UFOs
 

Do you believe in UFOs?

58%
42%

Personal Finance
 

0% Balance Transfer Cards
Card BT Fee
Barclaycard Platinum 2.9%
Capital One BT Platinum Card 3.0%
Virgin Credit Card 2.98%
Barclaycard OnePulse 2.5%
Egg Card 3.0%
Customers with a 'good' credit profile
Company Typical APR
Platinum Loans 7.5%
Barclays 7.9%
Moneyback Bank 8.4%
Alliance & Leicester 8.7%
Halifax (Semi-exclusive) 8.8%
Bank of Scotland (Semi-exclusive) 8.8%
Fixed Rate Bonds
Provider AER*
ICICI BANK
HiSAVE Fixed Rate Account 		7.20%
ICICI BANK
HiSAVE Fixed Rate Account 		7.00%
ICICI BANK
HiSAVE Fixed Rate Account 		7.00%
ARRAY(0x2b737bd72880)
 6 Month Fixed Rate Savings Account 		6.60%
Fees may apply