A man who faced legal troubles for posting a negative Google review has managed to return to his home just in time for Christmas festivities.
Craig Ballentine, a resident of Northern Ireland, was detained at Abu Dhabi airport in October after leaving a critical review of his former Dubai employer.
Radha Stirling, who supports tourists with legal challenges in the UAE, explained that Ballentine’s comments were about a dog grooming salon where he worked for six months in 2023.
Ballentine needed to take a break from work due to health issues and provided his employer with medical certificates to support his leave.
Despite this, the dog grooming company in Dubai reported him as ‘absconded’ to the local authorities, leading to his eventual return to the UK.
After returning home, Ballentine posted a critical Google review, which resulted in his arrest on slander charges during a holiday trip to Abu Dhabi.
According to the BBC, Ballentine had to pay a fine and received a one-month ban from social media. There was a possibility he would be required to remain in the UAE over the Christmas period due to a court date set for early next year.
However, while he may need to go back in January for the court proceedings, he managed to make it back to his family in Northern Ireland on Thursday, December 19.
BBC News NI interviewed him shortly after he arrived at Dublin Airport earlier in the week.
“It has been very overwhelming, because it has been quite confusing,” he expressed.
“It has been a Christmas miracle.”
Ballentine continued: “The happiness kicked in when I just arrived at Dublin Airport, when I saw Dublin from the sky, that was it.
“I will have an extra big fry in the next hour or two and then it will be mainly focusing on seeing friends and family.
“On Christmas Eve, we are going to do the 12 pubs of Christmas – there are a few friends from Liverpool coming over, we do it every year – and I texted them this morning, saying, ‘I’m coming’.”
Before Ballentine was allowed to return home for the holidays, a GoFundMe campaign titled ‘Help Bring Craig Home!’ was launched.
“What started out as a holiday to catch up with friends for Craig has turned out to be a living nightmare,” the fundraiser stated.
“We are asking for help to cover the financial burden that this case has taken on Craig who has been out of work due to the fiasco that his previous employer has caused.
“The burdening costs are crippling and any help will be greatly appreciated. At present legal fees are crippling and any money raised will go to help clearing these costs.”