LIVE: Eddie Obeid jailed for 5 years for Circular Quay corruption

• 4:27pm

'Odious'

Former Labor Premier Nathan Rees, who was famously rolled by Obeid and his colleagues in the ALP's dominant Right faction, said "Eddie Obeid is the most odious politician most Australians have ever seen."

"He also has damaged the standing of NSW parliament and its politicians," Rees told Herald scoop Kate McClymont.

"Most importantly he's undermined the public's confidence in our democracy."

This outcome, he said, is one that should be welcomed by the people of NSW.
 

• 4:07pm

Obeid and media coverage

You might remember that the judge who presided over the Harriet Wran trial launched a scathing attack on the media's coverage of the case. 

Justice Ian Harrison, who was referring in particular to articles in The Daily Telegraph and The Sunday Telegraph, took the "sustained and unpleasant" media campaign against Wran into account when sentencing her for robbery in company and being an accessory after the fact to murder.

Obeid's legal team also argued media coverage was a form of "extra-curial punishment" which should reduce any sentence imposed by the judge.

But Justice Beech-Jones said that, unlike Obeid, Wran was "not a public figure and her offending did not involve the abuse of any public position".

He said the Obeid reports were "concerned with the subject matter of corruption and politics, which is self‑evidently a topic of legitimate public debate".

• 3:36pm

On the move

After Obeid was led from the dock and taken into the cells beneath Darlinghurst Supreme Court, the convicted former Labor MP was taken first to the Sydney Police centre at Surry Hills.

Fairfax Media understands he is now being taken to the Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre at Silverwater jail, where he will be "processed". 

• 3:27pm

'Absolutely appalling'

You heard it here first. Obeid's son-in-law Majid Saab branded the family patriarch's prison sentence "absolutely appalling".

• 3:15pm

The jailed pollies club

Eddie Obeid is not the first politician to do a stint behind bars, although he is among the oldest.

Herald scoop Kate McClymont and I take a look at some of our famous political jailbirds.

You can read the full story here.

• 2:36pm

'Testament to ICAC'

The Greens' anti-corruption spokesman, Balmain MP Jamie Parker, said the Obeid case was "a testament to the hard work of the Independent Commission Against Corruption".

"It shows the crucial need for a strong, independent corruption fighting body in NSW to pursue investigations against politicians who abuse their powers."

He took aim at the Baird government over its recent restructure of the corruption watchdog, which triggered the resignation of commissioner Megan Latham.

• 2:20pm

'Justice done'

"I think the broad community will say justice has been done," NSW Premier Mike Baird said after Obeid was jailed for a maximum of five years.

"Everyone across NSW is incredibly angry. They have every right to be. But the good news today is that justice has been served."

As Herald state political editor Sean Nicholls reports, Baird also said "unfortunately for all of us, this is a very sad day".

"To have a situation where someone has used public office for their own benefit in the context of what we have seen for many, many months, indeed years, makes everyone sick to the stomach," Baird said.

• 2:14pm

Family departs

The Obeid family including distraught matriarch Judith have left Darlinghurst Supreme Court in a white Range Rover.

A son-in-law had some choice expletives for the media pack.

• 1:51pm

Led from court

A distraught Judith Obeid was led from court by her husband's junior barrister, Nancy Mikhaiel, and two of the couple's daughters.

Eddie Obeid, 73, was taken to the cells beneath Darlinghurst Supreme Court to begin his jail sentence. 

His lawyers have foreshadowed an appeal against his conviction as well as his five-year jail term, which includes a non-parole period of three years.

• 1:28pm

'Bail is refused'

"I direct Mr Obeid be taken down [into the cells]," Justice Beech-Jones says.

After loosening his tie and handing his watch to his lawyers, Obeid was led from the dock in court five in the historic Darlinghurst Supreme Court by Corrective Services officers.

Justice Beech-Jones says Obeid's lawyers have not established "exceptional circumstances" to warrant a grant of bail pending his appeal against conviction and sentence.

"I do not accept Mr Obeid's appeal rises any higher than being reasonably arguable," he says of the merits of the foreshadowed appeal.

• 1:18pm

Judith Obeid in tears

Obeid's wife of 51 years, Judith, has been visibly distressed since Justice Beech-Jones sentenced her husband to a maximum of five years in jail.

As the judge delivers his decision on whether the corrupt former Labor MP will be granted bail, Judith Obeid has left the court in tears.

• 1:12pm

Still here

Justice Beech-Jones is working his way methodically through the grounds offered by Obeid's barrister Guy Reynolds, SC, in support of the former Labor MP's application for bail.

Delivering lengthy judgments off the cuff is a judicial art.

• 12:59pm

'Sanctity of jury verdict'

Justice Beech-Jones says the "public interest upholding the sanctity of the jury's verdict" is a factor weighing against granting bail.

The corrupt former Labor kingpin's lawyers have also suggested he should be granted bail because he is facing a committal hearing on other corruption charges next year.

The Supreme Court judge says it can be accepted it will be harder for Obeid to prepare for that case while in jail.

• 12:45pm

The judge decides

Justice Robert Beech-Jones is now delivering his decision on whether Obeid should be granted bail. It's a busy morning for the Supreme Court judge.

• 12:44pm

The final, final point

 It feels like Obeid's barrister is holding out the promise of a "final" point but there is always another one to be made.

Guy Reynolds, SC, says Obeid will appeal not only his conviction but his sentence.

And yes, he still wants "a release order or bail" pending that appeal. If he doesn't get it from Justice Beech-Jones he is likely to ask the Court of Criminal Appeal to decide on that point too.

• 12:35pm

'Unreasonable verdict'

Obeid's barrister Guy Reynolds, SC, says he is moving onto his "final" point.

Not only does Reynolds say the jury was misdirected by Justice Beech-Jones, he says the jury's verdict was "unreasonable and cannot be supported by the evidence".

It's good to cover all one's bases. 

Reynolds says he is "grateful" to the court for allowing him to set out the grounds of appeal, as "aggravating" as it may be.

He reiterates he is seeking bail for his 73-year-old client pending an appeal.

• 12:26pm

Still here

Oh yes, we're still here in court. Obeid's barrister Guy Reynolds, SC, is fleshing out his submission there has been a miscarriage of justice.

Obeid has no intention of going to jail and his legal team wants Justice Beech-Jones to grant bail today.

Get comfortable. This could be a while.

• 12:16pm

Obeid to be stripped of pension

The Herald's state political editor Sean Nicholls has the exclusive: the Baird government will strip Obeid of his annual $120,000 parliamentary pension following his jail sentence for misconduct in public office.

Read the full story here.

• 12:08pm

No love lost

Former Labor premier Kristina Keneally is out of the blocks early to offer her views on Obeid's jail sentence. She's not mincing her words.

• 11:57am

It ain't over

Usually when a person is sent to prison, they are taken away from the courtroom almost immediately by corrective services.

Not so in the Obeid case. His lawyer, Guy Reynolds, SC, is in full flight about the alleged miscarriage of justice suffered by his client. He wants bail.

An impassive Obeid remains in the dock as Reynolds and Justice Beech-Jones engage in a robust discussion about the latter's summing up to the jury.