Aberdeenshire grandad will go to court after Dubai trespass charges
Ian MacKellar was trying to help his 18 month-old granddaughter sleep when he told neighbours to keep the noise down
Last updated 1st Feb 2024
An Aberdeenshire grandad has been told his case will go to court after being landed with trespass charges in Dubai.
Ian MacKellar was trying to help his 18 month-old granddaughter sleep when he challenged neighbours for being too noisy.
After an altercation, the 74 year-old told his daughter he was going to call the police, but trespass charges were filed against him.
He could face years in prison.
Ian’s wife, Carol, said: “It’s quite soul destroying sitting here on your own and knowing that my husband is all these thousands of miles away and I can do nothing – I can’t help him in any way at all.
“It’s really hard.
“I just wish someone in Dubai could see this for what we think it is and say right, ‘let him get home, let him get home to his wife, let his daughter get on with her life as best as she can and just put this awful situation behind us.’”
She added: “My husband is a very positive, lovely person and quite optimistic and I’ve never heard him so down.
“That’s a big worry for all of our family.”
Ian was supposed to return to his home in Newtonhill on January 10 but is being prevented from leaving whilst proceedings are ongoing.
Could take "four to six months" for court date
Lawyer Radha Stirling is CEO at Detained in Dubai and is assisting Mr MacKellar with his case but explained it can take months for a court date to be set.
She said: "The police have said that they have tried to discourage the complainant from proceeding but she has refused to drop the case.
“So, now he's in the position where he's awaiting on a court date but in the UAE that can take anywhere from four to six months - sometimes longer.
"Often, even if you're found innocent the punishment can be the process so he was hoping that he'd be out already - he's already overdue a couple of weeks from returning to Scotland.
"He has his own heart condition so he's extremely worried that now his medical insurance has run out, he's going to be at higher risk in Dubai.”
Ms Stirling has reached out to Ian’s MP, Andrew Bowie, for assistance.
A spokesman for Mr Bowie's office said: "Andrew has engaged with the Foreign Office after being contacted by Mr McKellar, and has given details of his case to the relevant minister.
"Andrew’s office are giving Mr McKellar’s family advice and support, and are working to help get him the medical help he needs."