AN IRISH MAN who was caught trying to enter Australia with a fake passport and later escaped immigration detention by tying bedsheets together has been jailed for 12 months.

Michael Connors , 26, was sentenced earlier this week in the Brisbane District Court.

His imprisonment will be backdated 34 days to reflect time already spent in custody. 

Connors pleaded guilty on 15 August to one count of providing false documents and false or misleading information.

He also pleaded guilty to one count of escaping from immigration detention.

On 13 March, 2025, Connors arrived in Brisbane on an international flight and was detained after he presented a counterfeit UK passport to the Australian Border Force.

Two days later, he escaped from immigration detention by tying bedsheets together and scaling down the side of the building. 

New South Wales (NSW) Police arrested Connors in Sydney on 31 July and he was then extradited to Queensland.

Australian Federal Police (AFP) Detective Superintendent Anthony Conway said Connor’s sentencing marked the final phase of a period of “hard work” by AFP members and NSW Police partners to “bring the man to justice”. 

“AFP members worked tirelessly to track the offender down to prevent any harm to the Australian community,” Conway said. 

“He committed serious offences by entering Australia with a fake passport and escaping from immigration detention.”