One door shuts...
As the prison door clanks shut on Eddie Obeid, we conclude our live blog on this historic day in NSW politics.
Of course, the fights are far from over. Obeid's legal team have already foreshadowed an appeal against the 73-year-old's conviction and sentence, arguing there has been a "miscarriage of justice".
Expect every point to be taken. The former Labor minister and his middle son, Moses, will also face a committal hearing next year after both men were charged over a $30 million coal deal exposed in a separate ICAC inquiry.
The hearing will assess the strength of the prosecution's case and determine if the men should stand trial. No doubt the prospect of a second trial is sending chills down the collective spine of the Obeid clain.
That concludes the Herald's live blog. Thanks for reading.
Strip search, prison greens and a pie for dinner
After his bail application was rejected, two burly Corrective Services officers escorted Obeid to the prison cells below the historic Darlinghurst Supreme Court.
There, custom dictates he would have been stripped naked and subjected to a full body search, says Herald scoop Kate McClymont.
Because of his profile, it's likely a High Risk Van with no markings would have been used to take him first to the Surry Hills police complex, and then out to the Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre at Silverwater jail for processing.
There, he would have to hand over any personal possessions before being stripped searched again and donning prison "greens".
After his induction into the prison system, the new inmate's first meal will likely be the famous prison meat pie.
Within the next day or so, Obeid will be transferred to Kevin Waller Unit within Long Bay, which is designated for frail and aged inmates.
One of Obeid's new jail mates at The Kevin Waller facility will be the infamous former detective Roger Rogerson, who is serving a life sentence for murder.
'It's vindication'
Former Labor Premier Morris Iemma – who resigned in 2008 after Obeid and his factional supporters blocked Mr Iemma from reshaping his cabinet – declared it "a great day for NSW".
"It's vindication that when I stood up to him I was right," he told the Herald's state political editor Sean Nicholls.
"I paid a heavy price personally but today is a day of satisfaction in that he's got his just deserts".
"It's confirmation that no-one is above the law. The [jail] term can't be long enough."
'A good day for NSW justice'
Deputy opposition leader Michael Daley said Labor welcomed the jailing of Eddie Obeid and said the people of NSW "demanded nothing less than a custodial sentence".
It was "a good day for NSW justice" and showed the "justice system in NSW works".
In a jibe at the Coalition government, which was rocked by ICAC's inquiry into political donations, Daley said public confidence in the parliament had been "weakened terribly" by both sides of politics.
He hoped the judgment would go "some way to restoring public confidence" in the state's elected representatives.
"In many respects, this is ICAC's day today," Daley said.
'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.
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".
Corruption 'topic of legitimate public debate'
Justice Robert Beech-Jones responds to criticism of media covering the corruption case of former Labor powerbroker Eddie Obeid.
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".
'Absolutely appalling'
You heard it here first. Obeid's son-in-law Majid Saab branded the family patriarch's prison sentence "absolutely appalling".
Family label Obeid sentence 'appalling'
The Obeid family were visibly upset as they left the Supreme Court after Eddie Obeid was jailed for up to five years.
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.
'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.
'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.
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.
Judith Obeid and family leave court in white Range Rover #auslaw #nswpol pic.twitter.com/urSzWoDKbA
— Michaela Whitbourn (@MWhitbourn) December 15, 2016
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.
Judith Obeid leaves court in tears
Judith Obeid has left the courtroom in tears after her husband Eddie was sentenced to a maximum term of five years in jail for misconduct in public office.
'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.
Eddie #Obeid is handing his personal possessions to his lawyers -his watch and trying to fish something from his trouser pockets
— Kate McClymont (@Kate_McClymont) December 15, 2016
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.
Judy #Obeid walked from the court by legal counsel. Can still be heard sobbing from outside. RBJ continuing to hand down bail decision.
— Lucy Carter (@lucethoughts) December 15, 2016
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.
Judith #Obeid sobbing as the Judge makes his ruling on bail. @9NewsSyd
— Kelly Fedor (@KellyFedor) December 15, 2016
'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.
Judge: Mr Obeid has been convicted, court is not to grant bail unless there are exceptional circumstances.#Obeid lawyer has outlined 12
— Kate McClymont (@Kate_McClymont) December 15, 2016
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.
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.
Court is still listening to #Obeid's barrister saying it could not be ruled out that they would be granted a reduction of sentence on appeal
— Kate McClymont (@Kate_McClymont) December 15, 2016
'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.
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