Mississauga, ON – Maurice Kevin O’Rourke, the 64-year-old Canadian who was sentenced to life imprisonment in the United Arab Emirates for possessing medical cannabis to manage his Addison’s disease, has been freed following an appeal and has returned safely home. His release comes after a months-long campaign led by Radha Stirling, founder and CEO of Detained in Dubai.
O’Rourke received his final judgment on 26 February 2025 and was released shortly thereafter, arriving home in Canada on the 1st of March. Although originally handed a life sentence, the court reduced the punishment to a 10,000 AED fine, which was deemed paid by time served. He was not deported, but did pay a visa overstay fine before departing the UAE.
His wife Pamela thanked Stirling, “He received his judgement on Feb 26, was released and was home on March 1. Since he got home, he has been working on regaining his health, which continues to be a struggle after 8 months of not receiving the proper medication. I still find it hard to understand, but after so much uncertainty, fear and anxiety, we are quietly enjoying being home and just regrouping.
“Thank you once again Radha”.
Radha Stirling, who has worked with the Canadian government on multiple cases, including that of André Gauthier, who faced nearly 70 criminal charges before being freed, called the result a success:
“Kevin was undoubtedly handed an effective death sentence. We are very happy to have helped him return safely home to Canada.” Stirling took the opportunity to issue a broader warning to travellers:
“People need to realise they can face lengthy imprisonment in the UAE simply for possessing common pharmaceutical or prescription medications. Travellers must be cautious and aware of the laws in their transit and destination countries.”
She encouraged travellers to download the Detained in Dubai emergency help app and contact the organisation immediately if facing any legal difficulty:
“Swift intervention is the key. Contacting us early and getting our legal team working on your case can completely change the outcome. If you’ve visited Dubai before, take our risk assessment quiz to see if you have a high likelihood of facing arrest. Many of the cases we have helped in could have been prevented if the traveller had checked their status in advance”.
The case of Maurice Kevin O’Rourke has underscored the life-altering consequences that travellers can face under UAE law and the critical importance of early legal intervention.
