Mum speaks out as Liverpool student gets 25 years in Dubai prison for cocaine possession

A 23-year-old student from Liverpool has been jailed for 25 years in a Dubai prison after being caught with Class A drugs.

Mia O’Brien, from Huyton in Liverpool, has been handed a life sentence after being caught with 50 grams of cocaine in the United Arab Emirates in October.

The former University of Liverpool law student now faces a 25 year imprisonment in Dubai Central Prison.

Her mum, Danielle McKenna, has claimed she believes her daughter “has been the victim of a miscarriage of justice” and insists “she is innocent”.

Via GoFundMe

She has spoken out following the news of Mia’s sentencing, claiming that the student “feels she has destroyed her life as she wanted to be a lawyer or solicitor”.

In statements provided to The Daily Mail, the “devastated” mum-of-five has blamed her daughter’s “wrong so-called friends” for allowing her to make a “stupid mistake”.

She emphasised that “she’s never been in trouble and is not a drug taker”.

Mia pleaded not guilty to drug offences in court, but was convicted by a judge after just a day-long hearing on July 25.

The 23-year-old was also fined £100,000 by the judge.

She was found with 50 grams of cocaine in an apartment in Dubai, an amount which has an estimated street value of around £2,500 in the UK.

Her mum insists that Mia O’Brien has “just made a stupid mistake after going over to see a friend and her boyfriend in Dubai”.

Via Facebook

She continued to say: “She paid for her own flight as she had a bit of savings. No one paid for her flight so she’s not one of these wannabe influencers.

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“I don’t think she was asked to bring anything back. She was caught with cocaine in an apartment.

“It was about 50 grams and there were two other people – her friend included. They have been charged with drug dealing.

“I don’t know whether the friend’s boyfriend was a drug dealer but I feel he has a lot to answer for”.

Mia is now jailed in Dubai Central Prison along with six other inmates.

Her mum believes she is “going through a living hell” as the “prison conditions are horrendous”.

Danielle added: “She is absolutely devastated by what has happened. Mia is being really strong but I know she is going through a living hell”.

The student’s family made an urgent plea for help in a GoFundMe page that was set up to assist them with legal and travel fees they are likely to face following her sentencing.

In the now deleted fundraiser, her mum called upon friends and relatives to “donate anything you can spare”.

Her mother, Danielle, later uploaded a follow-up statement to the page, thanking those who had sent money to the family to aid them in their attempt to release their daughter from the Dubai prison.

The fundraiser, which had a target of £1,600, had collected just under £700 before it then disappeared.

Via Facebook

The family has not spoken out about the drug charges until now.

Her mum claims she was “so shocked and heartbroken” upon the discovery of her daughter’s imprisonment.

She said: “She was crying on the phone and saying: “Oh mum – please forgive me” and was trying to forgive me.

“I don’t know what has happened but she is old enough to make her own mind up.

“I definitely don’t think she was going to sell the drugs or bring them back.

“It’s a lot of drugs but there are others involved and she has just been caught up in it”.

It is currently unknown if Mia O’Brien will fulfil her life sentencing in the Dubai prison, or if she is likely to face parole.

She has not paid the court’s 500,000 dirham fine but is due to have an appeal in the following weeks.

Featured images via Facebook and GoFundMe