Christmas hopes fade for 'devastated' NI man held in Dubai

A Northern Ireland holidaymaker detained in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after posting a negative Google review has said he is "devastated" that a February court date means he will likely spend Christmas away from home.

Craig Ballentine, from Cookstown in County Tyrone, was arrested in Abu Dhabi airport in October because he posted critical comments about his former employer in Dubai.

He said he has paid a fine and been given a month-long social media ban, but has now learned there is a court appeal in his case.

He faces the prospect of Christmas in the UAE, unless the matter is resolved.

'Couldn't stop crying'

"I think anyone would be quite devastated," he told BBC News NI, adding that he was gobsmacked when he heard on Monday the court hearing had been pushed back.

He was on his way to a police station to have his travel ban lifted when he heard the news.

"While I was in the middle of the transit going there, I got the email that the court was not happy and they wanted to appeal again."

He added: "I called friends and family and couldn't stop crying, because you're holding on to those emotions, you're just trying to focus on 'let's get out of here' and that was the priority yesterday - to get the travel ban lifted and just get out as soon as possible.

"The next flight was 2am and that was the main goal - and then everything collapsed."

Mr Ballentine said he was trying to get the date "brought back much, much earlier".

Craig Ballentine had returned to Dubai to visit friends when he was arrested

'I have to be realistic'

Mr Ballentine said he was prepared for the possibility of spending Christmas in the UAE.

"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, I know they are trying their best, but even an extra push."

Why was Craig Ballentine detained?

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

After working there for almost six months, he needed time off due to illness and so he 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 "absconded" with the UAE authorities, which meant he could not leave the country.

Mr Ballentine later managed to get that travel ban lifted and went home to Northern Ireland, but doing so took two months and cost him thousands of pounds.

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

He told BBC News NI his Google post "explained the ordeal that I went through".

In late October, Mr Ballentine returned to the UAE for a short holiday, at which point he was immediately arrested for the alleged slander.

He was transferred from Abu Dhabi to Dubai where he now has to wait on the outcome of the case.