Mia O'Brien: Jailed Dubai cocaine woman's mum Dannielle McKenna sets up new fundraiser
The mum of a young law student who has been given a life sentence in Dubai after being caught with cocaine has launched another fundraising campaign.
Mia O’Brien was sentenced last week after a one-day Arabic trial, having been held in the country for several months, and was told she would have to serve 25 years before she is released. She was arrested in October but her story has only become public within the last week.
The 23-year-old, from Huyton, Liverpool, was caught with 50g of cocaine, worth about £2,500. She was with two other people but they have not been named, nor is it clear whether they have been punished.
Her mum Dannielle McKenna set up several GoFundMe campaigns over the weekend to raise money for legal fees and visits, but the platform removed them because the involvement of drugs breached its terms and conditions.
Now Ms McKenna has set up a new account on the platform GiveSendGo, and has set a target of £5,000, of which £55 has so far been raised.
On the Mia Rose fund page she wrote: “As everyone knows by now, Mia has been given a life sentence in Dubai, and is now in central prison.
“I am asking for your help, so that family can get over to Dubai to visit Mia, as we haven’t seen her since last October, and it would also really help with any other fees that we may face along the way. Even if it’s only a £1 it could help us massively. Thank you so much.”
On Facebook she added: “This is my little girl, my first born and only daughter, I would and will fight for my kids till the day I die.
“So to all you haters, let’s hope Karma doesn’t come knocking on your door, your nasty comments do not hurt or affect my life, so you won’t get a reaction or response from me, and if that’s what your after, maybe get in touch with the Samaritans help line if your that sad and lonely. Much love to you all.”
Ms McKenna has deleted a Facebook post over the weekend in which she published her bank details, after the GoFundMe pages were deleted.