‘Christmas miracle’ of man detained in Dubai over Google review tophyper

A holidaymaker from Northern Ireland who was arrested in the UAE after posting a negative review on Google about his former employer has said returning home is a “Christmas miracle”.

Craig Ballentine, from Cookstown, County Tyrone, was arrested at Abu Dhabi airport in October over his critical comments.

Under the UAE’s strict cybercrime laws, he has been charged with defamation and faces possible imprisonment.

The 33-year-old arrived in Dublin on Thursday morning after his travel ban was lifted, and told BBC News he was “happy to be on Irish turf now”.

“It was very overwhelming, because it was very confusing,” he said.

“In one minute everything changes.

“It was a Christmas miracle.

“The happiness started when I had just arrived at Dublin Airport, when I saw Dublin from the sky, that was it.

“I’ll have an extra large meal in the next hour or two and then I’ll mainly focus on seeing friends and family.

“On Christmas Eve we will be doing 12 Christmas pubs – there are a few friends from Liverpool who come over, we do it every year – and I texted them this morning saying: ‘I’m coming’.”

There have been interventions from a number of politicians to highlight Ballentine’s case, including Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill, former UUP leader Sir Reg Impey, and Mid-Ulster Councilor Trevor Wilson.

On Mr Ballentine’s return, O’Neill said: “I am delighted to hear news of Craig’s return to Ireland. It has been a difficult few months for him and his family who were concerned for his safety.

“My office was happy to help in any way we could during this ordeal. I hope Craig can now enjoy his time at home in the company of his family and friends who have supported him throughout this difficult situation.”

Cllr Wilson also welcomed Mr Ballentine back to his home country.

The UUP councilor said: “It has been a very stressful time for him and his family and we hope that he will now be able to enjoy the Christmas celebrations with his family and friends.”

Mr Ballentine had previously told BBC News NI All he wanted was to go home to his family for Christmas.

He said the past few weeks have been difficult for them.

Mr Ballentine has already paid a fine but said he may have to return to Dubai at the end of January for another court hearing.

He said that as far as his case was concerned, he would have to “listen to it.”

He added: “On Christmas Eve, we will know a little bit of the court’s ruling.”

“We have to wait another 30 days, and then they may resume again, so it could be in February, March, April, or it could be lifted that way, and that’s it.”

In 2023, Mr. Ballentine got a job at a dog grooming salon in Dubai.

After working there for about six months, he needed time off due to illness and so gave his employer a doctor’s certificate as proof of his condition.

But when he did not show up for work, he was registered as a “fugitive” with the UAE authorities, meaning he could not leave the country.

Ballentine was later able to lift the travel ban and return to his homeland in Northern Ireland, but doing so took two months and cost him thousands of pounds.

While back in Northern Ireland, he wrote an online review of a dog grooming salon, outlining the problems his former boss had allegedly caused him.

He told BBC News NI that his Google post “explained the ordeal I had been through”.

In late October, Mr Ballentine returned to the UAE for a short holiday, whereupon he was immediately arrested on charges of alleged defamation.

He was transferred from Abu Dhabi to Dubai, where he had to wait for the outcome of the case.