Imagine living with the fear that simply going back home could cost you your life.
That’s the situation one Jamaican man found himself in—a convicted murderer who has now won a legal fight to stay in the UK after pleading that returning to Jamaica would expose him to deadly retaliation from a notorious gang.
The Shadow of One Order Gang
The man, who has lived in the UK since 1996 and remains unnamed for legal reasons, argued that his life would be in grave danger if deported.
He claimed that the One Order gang, a powerful criminal group operating out of Spanish Town in Jamaica, had already torn apart his family.
According to his testimony, the gang was responsible for murdering his brothers and attacking their family home.
His sister was even placed in the Witness Protection Programme for her safety.
The First Legal Setback
Initially, the UK Home Office tried to deport him, and he lost his first appeal at the First-tier Tribunal.
The judge in that hearing didn’t buy into the seriousness of the threat.
They concluded that the man’s claims were vague and poorly supported, including doubts over whether One Order was truly after him.
Upper Tribunal Steps In
But that wasn’t the end of the road.
He appealed again, and this time, the Upper Tribunal in Cardiff took a closer look—and found some critical issues with the original ruling.
Judge Sean O’Brien, who handled the case, pointed out that the First-tier Tribunal had made serious legal errors.
The lower court failed to acknowledge that key parts of the man’s story weren’t even disputed by the Home Office.
For example, there was no real argument over whether the gang had actually murdered his family members or if his sister was indeed placed in protection.
Missed Details and Misunderstandings
Judge O’Brien also criticized the original ruling for misunderstanding who in the family had been killed and when, and for not giving proper weight to the steps taken to confirm his sister’s status in the witness program.
He noted that the judge had failed to fairly assess the man’s concerns about gang retribution and didn’t give his account a proper credibility check.
A Man Changed?
While the ruling acknowledged that the man had committed murder, details about the crime were not discussed.
What was mentioned, however, is that he has undergone rehabilitation, been through the offender management system, and reportedly now shows an admirable work ethic.
A Notorious Gang’s Grip on Jamaica
The gang at the heart of the issue—One Order—isn’t a small-time group.
It’s a deeply entrenched criminal organization accused of extortion, drug trafficking, and a string of murders.
They’re said to be linked to the Jamaica Labour Party and are especially active in Spanish Town, an area known for high criminal activity.
In fact, earlier this year, their alleged leader, Othneil “Thickman” Lobban, was shot and killed by police.
His death triggered such violent unrest that schools and businesses had to shut down.
What’s Next?
Now, because of the earlier flawed ruling, the case isn’t quite over.
Judge O’Brien said that the previous decision was both “erroneous” and “unsustainable”.
He explained that because the earlier judge didn’t properly consider all the facts, it’s unclear whether the Jamaican man would still be in danger if he went back.
So, a fresh hearing has been ordered, where the full story—and the risk he may still face from the One Order gang—will be reassessed.
The outcome of that new hearing could determine whether he gets to stay in the UK for good or is sent back into a life-threatening situation.
