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Brit student Mia O’Brien in 'Christmas miracle' release from Dubai jail despite drug charge
Mia O’Brien, a 24-year-old law student from Merseyside, was released from her "living hell" in a Dubai jail in what her mum calls a "Christmas miracle", despite her being handed a lengthy prison sentence
A British student who was sentenced to 25 years in a Dubai jail for drug offences has been given a surprise release from her "living hell".
Mia O’Brien, 24, was reportedly back in the UK for Christmas, according to the Sun, despite being jailed for decades after testing positive for cocaine while on holiday in the UAE.
Mum Danielle McKenna, 46, seemingly confirmed the news on social media that the law student is now safe at home in Huyton, Merseyside.
Danielle posted a video of her with Mia on Christmas day entitled ‘She’s Home'. In a reply to one user, her mum added: "It’s like a Christmas miracle, best Christmas ever.”
Mia was arrested along with a female friend and her pal's boyfriend after cops stormed a flat. Her friend tested negative for cocaine and was released without charge, while the other two both tested positive.
She was found guilty of having and supplying drugs after police said they found cocaine worth £2,500 at a raided flat. She denied the charges at a July trial but was convicted, jailed and fined £100,000.
Mia was held in a notorious prison dubbed "the Alcatraz of Dubai" with six other inmates, mainly Nigerian criminals, according to her mum.
Danielle McKenna previously told the Daily Mail: "She is absolutely devastated. Mia feels she has destroyed her life as she wanted to be a lawyer or solicitor. I speak to her but she can't say too much on the phone."
Mia was preparing to appeal her 25-year sentence in Dubai in September but was told just weeks ago that she would be freed.
She pleaded not guilty during her one day trial, which was reportedly held entirely in Arabic. However, Mia was found guilty in proceedings that both her family and legal advisers condemned as deeply unfair.
Speaking at the time of Mia's appeal against her sentence. Radha Stirling, founder of Detained in Dubai, warned that Mia’s ordeal reflects the same systemic failures in Dubai’s justice system that have repeatedly harmed British nationals.
She said: “Dubai police have a history of rushing to secure convictions without the rigorous evidentiary standards we expect in the UK.
"We’ve seen fabricated confessions, reliance on circumstantial evidence, and a disregard for due process. I would urge the public to withhold judgement. Mia’s case could be the latest in a long line of miscarriages of justice.”
Daily Star Sunday
Mia O’Brien, a 24-year-old law student from Merseyside, was released from her "living hell" in a Dubai jail in what her mum calls a "Christmas miracle", despite her being handed a lengthy prison sentence
A British student who was sentenced to 25 years in a Dubai jail for drug offences has been given a surprise release from her "living hell".
Mia O’Brien, 24, was reportedly back in the UK for Christmas, according to the Sun, despite being jailed for decades after testing positive for cocaine while on holiday in the UAE.
Mum Danielle McKenna, 46, seemingly confirmed the news on social media that the law student is now safe at home in Huyton, Merseyside.
Danielle posted a video of her with Mia on Christmas day entitled ‘She’s Home'. In a reply to one user, her mum added: "It’s like a Christmas miracle, best Christmas ever.”
Mia was arrested along with a female friend and her pal's boyfriend after cops stormed a flat. Her friend tested negative for cocaine and was released without charge, while the other two both tested positive.
She was found guilty of having and supplying drugs after police said they found cocaine worth £2,500 at a raided flat. She denied the charges at a July trial but was convicted, jailed and fined £100,000.
Mia was held in a notorious prison dubbed "the Alcatraz of Dubai" with six other inmates, mainly Nigerian criminals, according to her mum.
Danielle McKenna previously told the Daily Mail: "She is absolutely devastated. Mia feels she has destroyed her life as she wanted to be a lawyer or solicitor. I speak to her but she can't say too much on the phone."
Mia was preparing to appeal her 25-year sentence in Dubai in September but was told just weeks ago that she would be freed.
She pleaded not guilty during her one day trial, which was reportedly held entirely in Arabic. However, Mia was found guilty in proceedings that both her family and legal advisers condemned as deeply unfair.
Speaking at the time of Mia's appeal against her sentence. Radha Stirling, founder of Detained in Dubai, warned that Mia’s ordeal reflects the same systemic failures in Dubai’s justice system that have repeatedly harmed British nationals.
She said: “Dubai police have a history of rushing to secure convictions without the rigorous evidentiary standards we expect in the UK.
"We’ve seen fabricated confessions, reliance on circumstantial evidence, and a disregard for due process. I would urge the public to withhold judgement. Mia’s case could be the latest in a long line of miscarriages of justice.”
Daily Star Sunday