It’s supper to escape Dubai hell
Grandad back home after court fine
A GRANDAD celebrated his return home to Scotland after avoiding prison in the United Arab Emirates with a fish supper.
OAP Ian Mackellar was charged with trespassing and verbal assault after he complained to neighbours in Dubai about loud music on Hogmanay.
The 75-year-old, from Newtonhill, Aberdeenshire, feared he was going to be sent to jail after being convicted over the incident but was instead hit with a fine and allowed to leave the country.
He was greeted by his wife, Carol, at Glasgow Airport on Tuesday before heading home for one of Stonehaven’s famous fish suppers with his family.
He said: “The lady who served us was delighted to see me back again.
“We all sat and had a fish supper with a cup of tea at the table here.
We thoroughly enjoyed it. A haddock supper – you can’t beat it.”
The couple had been visiting their daughter and granddaughter for the New Year when a row with neighbours broke out late at night. Trespassing is punishable by jail time under Dubai laws so when Ian entered the neighbours’ open gates to ask them to move their party indoors they reported him to the police.
He said: “I hadn’t quite anticipated how it might turn out.
“I hadn’t really considered it would come out as badly as it had done.
“We tried everything we could to try to persuade this neighbour to turn down the noise.
“Looking back maybe I was a bit naive as well.”
Ian was finally told last week he was being fined £650 after an expedited ruling was issued by the Dubai One Day Court.
He has also been told he can return to the country.
Relieved Ian added: “Of course I want to return to see my daughter and granddaughter and regularly if possible.
“They assured me it was a fine and the travel ban was lifted immediately.”