A holidaymaker from Northern Ireland who was detained in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after posting a negative Google review of his former employer has said that returning home was a “Christmas miracle”. “is
Craig Ballantine, from Cookstown, County Tyrone, was arrested in October for his critical comments at Abu Dhabi airport.
Under the UAE’s strict cybercrime laws, he was charged with defamation and faced possible jail time.
The 33-year-old arrived in Dublin on Thursday morning after his travel ban was lifted and told BBC News NI he was “happy to be back on Irish grass now”.
“It’s been overwhelming, because it’s quite confusing,” he said.
“Everything changes in a minute.
“It’s been a Christmas miracle.
“The joy started when I just arrived at Dublin Airport, when I saw Dublin from the sky, that was it.
“I’ll have an extra large fry in the next hour or two and then it’ll be mainly focused on seeing friends and family.
“Over Christmas, we’re going to do the 12 Pubs of Christmas – some friends are coming from Liverpool, we do that every year – and I texted them this morning, ‘I’m coming’.”
Stormont support
Several politicians have intervened to highlight Mr Ballantyne’s case, including Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill, former UUP leader Sir Reg Empey and Mid Ulster councilor Trevor Wilson.
On Mr Ballantyne’s return, O’Neill said: “I am delighted to hear that Craig has returned to Ireland. It has been a difficult few months for him and his family who are concerned for his safety. .
“My office was happy to assist us in any way we could during this ordeal. I hope Craig can now spend time at home with the family and friends who supported him through this difficult time.”
Mr Ballantine previously told BBC News NI. All he wanted was to be home for Christmas to his family.
He said that the last few weeks have been tough for him.
Mr Ballantine has already paid the fine but said he would have to return to Dubai at the end of January for further court hearings.
He said he would have to “play it by ear” regarding his case.
“By Christmas, we will know a little about the court decision,” he added.
“There’s another 30 days to wait and then they can appeal again, so it could be February, March, April, or it could be lifted like that, over.”
Why was Craig Ballantine detained?
In 2023, Mr. Ballantine got a job at a dog grooming salon in Dubai.
After working there for about six months he needed sick leave and so he gave his employer a doctor’s certificate as proof of his condition.
But when he didn’t turn up for work, he was registered with the UAE authorities as a “fugitive”, which meant he couldn’t leave the country.
Mr Ballantine later managed to get the travel ban lifted and returned home to Northern Ireland, but it took two months and cost him thousands of pounds.
When he was 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 went through”.
In late October, Mr. Ballantine returned to the UAE for a short vacation, at which point he was promptly arrested for alleged defamation.
He was transferred from Abu Dhabi to Dubai to await the outcome of the case.