A 23-year-old British student - who was given a life sentence and a £100,000 fine in Dubai after a "stupid mistake" - has shared an update.
Mia O’Brien was allegedly caught with 50 grams of cocaine during a trip to the Middle East in October. She pleaded not guilty but was convicted by a judge after a day-long hearing on July 25.
Her mother, Danielle McKenna, says the “trial was all in Arabic,” and that Mia is now being held at Dubai’s Central Prison.
Mia, from Huyton, had been studying law in Liverpool and hoped to become a lawyer or solicitor. Speaking to Mail Online, Danielle said, "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. She's just made a stupid mistake after going over to see a friend and her boyfriend in Dubai."
Danielle, 46, says Mia is not a drug taker and has never been in trouble before, and she does not believe her daughter intended to sell the drugs or take them home.
Mia is being held in Dubai’s Central Prison, which is widely referenced for overcrowding, violence, and squalid conditions. According to the account shared by her family, inmates face a lack of privacy, with cells designed for three or four packed with far more, and some prisoners sharing beds.
Danielle said, "She is absolutely devastated by what has happened. Mia is being really strong but I know she is going through a living hell. The prison conditions are horrendous. There are no staff really and she has to bang on a big door if she needs anything.
"She's seen fights and said she has been really scared. Mia said she has to sleep on a mattress on the floor and shares the cell with six others. But she's not been ill - she has just come out in a few rashes."
Mia has not paid the £100,000 fine, and an appeal is expected within the coming weeks, her family says.
Danielle shared hopes her daughter could be transferred back to the UK in future, saying, "She said she hopes that she might get sent back to serve her sentence here after Ramadan when they might do clemency deals. But she is devastated by what has happened. We we were all shocked by the sentence she was given.
"But Mia is being really brave about it but she really misses her two young brothers who are aged just five and seven. She just wants to come home. I want her home too - she's my only daughter. I was so shocked when she told me what had happened - I would never had thought it in a million years. She can't wait to come home. She said the prison can be scary but she's just trying to keep her head down."
A GoFundMe launched by Danielle to help with legal fees and travel has been removed by the platform.
A company spokesperson said, "It was removed because it violates Term 9 of the Prohibited Conduct section in our Terms of Service. Term 9 prohibits raising funds on GoFundMe for the legal defence of certain alleged crimes."
Despite the setback, Danielle thanked supporters and explained how funds would help, writing: "Mia has been given a life sentence over in Dubai and she is now in central prison," and later adding, "Mia has been given a life sentence over in Dubai and she is now in central prison. As you can all probably imagine, as her mother I am absolutely devastated. I haven't seen my daughter since last October. Mia is only 23 years old and has never done a bad thing in her life."
She continued, "I just want to thank everyone for their donations so far, this money will be used to send to my daughter Mia, and also for any legal fees that may arise, and maybe even to go towards getting family over to Dubai to see her, as none of us have seen Mia since last October, so thank you all so much."
Loved ones say their priority is to get Mia home and fight what they describe as a “miscarriage of justice.” For now, Mia remains in Dubai’s Central Prison, awaiting the appeal process and hoping for a route back to the UK.