Irishman detained in Dubai for posting negative review of dog salon faces Christmas travel ban

An Irishman detained in Dubai for posting a negative online review of a dog salon has been banned from travelling home for Christmas.

Craig Ballentine, from Tyrone, was arrested last October and was penalised with a fine and a one-month social media ban. He finally hoped to end his ordeal by traveling home on Tuesday. However, just as he was making his way to a police station in Dubai before planning to catch a plane home to Ireland, he received devastating news.

Craig (33) learned that the authorities want to appeal his case and have set a court date for the new year – meaning he remains detained in Dubai. He is not in prison and is allowed to stay in the home of a friend while he awaits the outcome of the case.

Craig said: “I was shocked. It was utter, complete shock. I received an email and called family and friends. I just couldn’t stop crying. You’re holding onto your emotions, you’re just trying to focus on, ‘Let’s get out of here’. That was my priority. I wanted to get the travel ban lifted and just get out of Dubai as soon as possible. The next flight was at 2am and that was the main goal. But, then, everything collapsed.”

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Craig worked in a dog grooming salon in Dubai last year, but fell ill after six months at the job. He provided a doctor's certificate to his employer as proof of his illness, but he was reported as "absconded" to police when he did not go to work. Under the rules of the United Arab Emirates, of which Dubai is one of seven, it meant that Craig could not leave the UAE.

The travel ban was lifted and, after two months of legal wrangling that cost him thousands of euro, Craig eventually flew home. When he was back in Ireland, he wrote a negative review online of the dog grooming salon. Craig returned last October for a holiday to Dubai’s UAE neighbour Abu Dhabi and was immediately arrested to face charges in Dubai about the online review. He was transferred from Abu Dhabi to Dubai and is now due in court in two months’ time.

Craig said: "I think anyone would be quite devastated. I got the email that the court was not happy and they wanted to appeal again." He added: "The plan in my head has already been made that I'll not be home. I don't want to be too optimistic, I have to be quite realistic. It is trying to get the politicians to push even more. know they are trying their best, but even an extra push.”

He is one of at least four Irish adults who are known to have been detained in Dubai in recent months on controversial charges. It was revealed in July past that Roscommon air stewardess Tori Towey (28) faced prison on charges of drinking alcohol and attempting suicide after she sought police help for alleged domestic abuse.

In recent weeks, the cases of Craig Ballentine, Wicklow man Stuart Quiney (39), and Dublin woman Alma McCabe (36) also emerged. Stuart left belongings in a friend’s apartment in Dubai during a visit in 2022 and was back in Ireland when he sent an emoji to another man who he accused of stealing possessions from the apartment. Stuart was immediately arrested when he returned to Dubai in September past.

It emerged last month that Alma and her daughter Isabella (4) are also stuck in Dubai with travel bans after Alma’s German ex-husband applied for a travel ban amid a custody dispute. Alma’s mum Trish has appealed to the Government for help to get them home.

The mum of Tori Towey, who returned home from Dubai in July after international outrage at her detention, urged all the families to exert pressure to get them home to Ireland.

Tori’s mum Caroline told the Irish Mirror: “I imagine the families are very stressed and all sorts of horror stories are going through their heads. They are probably wondering if they are going to end up in prison and wondering what’s going to happen to them when they get there." She added: “Dubai is not safe. It’s fabulous escapism but it only takes one second for someone to take a grievance against you."

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