A British law student has been released from a Dubai prison just in time for the holiday season, following a high-profile case that saw her sentenced to 25 years behind bars. Mia O’Brien, aged 24, was detained in October 2024 after authorities found 50 grams of cocaine at a party in the city. The raid led to her arrest on charges of drug supply and possession.
During a trial conducted in Arabic, Ms. O’Brien was convicted on July 25, despite her pleas of innocence. The court handed her a severe sentence, including a lengthy prison term at Al-Awir Central Prison and a hefty fine amounting to approximately £100,000.
Her release comes as a significant relief to her family, particularly her mother, Danielle McKenna, who announced that Mia had returned home to Huyton, Merseyside, just in time to celebrate Christmas. The family had been actively campaigning for her freedom, receiving support from the advocacy group Detained in Dubai. The organization had indicated that an appeal against her conviction was nearing.
Ms O’Brien pleaded not guilty to the offences but was handed a lengthy term at Al-Awir Central Prison as well as a fine of around £100k.
Her mother, Danielle McKenna, has now shared the news of Ms O’Brien’s release – who made it home in time for Christmas in Huyton, Merseyside.
It followed a period of campaigning from her family and pressure group Detained in Dubai previously said Ms O’Brien’s appeal against the conviction was close.
Ms McKenna has since uploaded a video montage of her daughter to Facebook in the early hours of December 25, boasting of how she had made it home in time for the big day.
Entitled ‘She’s Home’, Ms Mckenna said in the clip: ‘Home where she belongs. It’s like a Christmas miracle, best Christmas ever.’
Mia O’Brien (pictured), 24, was arrested in the Middle Eastern city in October 2024 after 50g of the intoxicant was reportedly found in a flat stormed by police during a party
Danielle McKenna has since uploaded a video montage of her daughter to Facebook in the early hours of December 25, boasting of how she had made it home in time for the big day
Mia O’Brien, pictured, a British law student jailed for 25 years in a ‘hellhole’ Dubai prison over cocaine charges after a trial held in Arabic, has been freed
It follows the delighted mother revealing earlier this month that her daughter’s release was imminent.
At the time, Ms McKenna had said on Facebook: ‘Thank you so much everyone, am still in shock, am buzzing, can’t wait to give her the tightest cuddle ever.
‘She’s coming home, she’s coming home, my baby is coming home.’
Friends congratulated Ms McKenna on the news with one saying: ‘What an Xmas present – your daughter coming home.’
Another posted: ‘So glad she’s coming home. Absolute travesty that poor lassie has had to go through.’
The mother did not say how Ms O’Brien’s release had been secured but she has been assisted by the Foreign Office and campaign group Detained in Dubai had revealed in September that her appeal against the conviction was looming.
A cellmate – a mother and fellow Briton – previously said that Ms O’Brien had apparently told her she had only used ‘one line of cocaine’.
She was convicted of drug supply and possession charges on July 25 this year following a one-day trial held in Arabic
Ms O’Brien was arrested with her friend and friend’s boyfriend
Ms O’Brien was arrested with her female friend and her pal’s boyfriend.
Her friend tested negative for cocaine and was released without charge, while the other two both tested positive.
Ms O’Brien was detained in the ‘hellhole’ Al-Awir Central Prison, dubbed Dubai’s Alcatraz, reportedly sharing a filthy cell with six women and sleeping on a mattress on the floor.
It is unclear what has happened to her friend’s boyfriend.
Ms McKenna appealed for financial support via Facebook and GiveSendGo after GoFundMe removed her page, launched in September, for breaching its ‘community guidelines’.
She also reported receiving lots of abuse online about her daughter’s situation after launching the appeal.
A Foreign Office spokesperson said: ‘We are supporting the family of a British woman detained in the UAE and are in contact with the local authorities.’
Radha Stirling, founder of campaign group Detained in Dubai, confirmed in a press release in September that the law student was appealing the conviction.
She was detained in the ‘hellhole’ Al-Awir Central Prison, dubbed Dubai’s Alcatraz, reportedly sharing a filthy cell with six women and sleeping on a mattress on the floor
She said: ‘Mia O’Brien is preparing to appeal her 25-year sentence in Dubai after being convicted of drug possession in a one day trial held entirely in Arabic.
‘Despite pleading not guilty, Mia was found guilty in proceedings her family and legal advisers have condemned as deeply unfair.
‘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.
‘Mia has pleaded not guilty from the start, but the system has already failed her. Unless this appeal is taken seriously, she risks losing decades of her life.’
