British woman, 23, jailed for life in Dubai after ‘stupid mistake’

A young British woman has been jailed for life in Dubai, her family revealed tonight.

Mia O’Brien, 23, from Huyton, Liverpool, ‘made a very stupid mistake’, according to her mother, who has launched a heartfelt plea on a fundraising site for help with travel and legal fees.

‘Mia has been given a life sentence over in Dubai and she is now in central prison,’ her mother Danielle McKenna, 46, wrote in the post.

‘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. This is a young girl, who went to university to do law, and unfortunately got mixed up in the wrong so-called friends and made a very stupid mistake and is now paying the price.

‘So all I ask is if you can donate anything you can spare, even if it’s a £1, it could help up massively and I would be forever grateful. Thank you so much.’

Later, she added: ‘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 ❤️’

Danielle told the Mail: ‘She’s going through it at the minute. She’s just been transferred to another prison after getting a life sentence.

‘It’s been a massive shock.’

It’s not known what crime Ms McKenna has been convicted of, but life sentences in the Emirates can be given in cases of drug trafficking, depending on the circumstances and the amount of drugs.

Other crimes attracting life terms – which in Dubai is usually around 15 years – include serious violence and terrorism.

The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office starkly warns visitors to Dubai on its website: ‘There is zero tolerance for drugs-related offences.

‘The penalties for trafficking, smuggling, using and possessing illegal drugs (including residual amounts) are severe.

‘Sentences for drug trafficking can include the death penalty. Possession of even the smallest amount of illegal drugs, including cannabis, can lead to a minimum 3-month prison term or a fine of between 20,000 UAE dirham (£4,000) and 100,000 UAE dirham (£20,000).

‘The Emirati authorities count the presence of drugs in the blood stream as possession.

‘Some ‘herbal highs’ and products containing cannabidiol (CBD) are illegal in the UAE.

‘Possessing, concealing or making transactions with money from drugs-related offences is illegal. You could get a prison sentence and a fine.

‘UAE airports have excellent technology and security for detecting illegal items, including cannabis. This is also used to scan the baggage of transiting passengers. You can be arrested for carrying drugs, even residual amounts.’

The fundraising page, with a target of £1,600, had raised just short of £700.