- Ian Mackellar was arrested for complaining a couple of neighbour’s loud NYE celebration
- He was taking care of his granddaughter in his daughter’s UAE house
- His spouse says he is ‘totally devastated’ to be dealing with jail in Dubai
The heartbroken spouse of a 74-year-old man who’s being taken to court docket in Dubai for complaining a couple of neighbour’s noisy New Year’s Eve half says she’s terrified he might die in a UAE jail.
Ian Mackellar, 74, and his spouse, of Newtonhill, had been visiting their daughter and 18-month-old granddaughter within the United Arab Emirates as 2023 got here to an finish.
On the night time, Ian, a retired economics professor, went to complain about music coming from a celebration, however was accused of trespassing, reported to the police and arrested.
The Mackellar household had hoped the matter can be resolved and he can be allowed to come back house, however has been held within the nation properly after he was resulting from fly house on January 10.
Carol, his spouse of 49 years, says she’s scared he might by no means go away the UAE alive.
Ian Mackellar, 74, and his spouse, of Newtonhill, had been visiting their daughter and 18-month-old granddaughter within the United Arab Emirates
Ian, a colon most cancers survivor who’s at the moment present process remedy for hypertension, is at the moment ‘very despondent’
‘He could not survive, I can not see him surviving in jail’ she instructed The Times.
‘I’m totally devastated and my husband is as properly. I’m lonely sitting right here and never figuring out what is going on to occur.’
She added that Ian, a colon most cancers survivor who’s at the moment present process remedy for hypertension, is at the moment ‘very despondent’, and hasn’t been in a position to in a position to go away his mattress for a number of days.
Ian stated he was babysitting his granddaughter on New Year’s Eve, when noises from a close-by celebration bled into his daughter’s house.
Carol beforehand stated of the incident: ‘I haven’t got an issue in any respect with a celebration however it was so loud the home windows have been rattling.’
The Mackellers’ daughter was anxious about beginning work at 5.30am and their granddaughter couldn’t sleep.
Their daughter posted in an area residence Facebook group asking the neighbours to show the noise down, however the music turned louder.
Mr Mackeller, along with his granddaughter in his arms, knocked on the door of the home celebration however acquired no reply.
So he walked into the again backyard when all of a sudden three males and the host rushed at him and pushed him.
When he left, the host – who was a Lebanese lady who had lived within the UAE for years – adopted him into the road shouting and swearing at him. She then threw a drink at him and the newborn and when he returned house he was ‘soaking moist’.
Dubai police arrested him, and menacingly instructed him he was fortunate to be an aged man, as they might’ve thrown him in jail for the alleged crime
Ms Mackeller talked him out of calling the police as UAE has strict legal guidelines for foreigners and the celebration lastly wound down at 3.30am. But on January 2, police knocked on the door because the neighbours had reported Ian for trespassing.
He was questioned for hours and was instructed he was fortunate as if he had been youthful he would have been thrown in jail instantly.
Officers stated the neighbour is refusing to drop the costs.
A spokesman for his or her MP, Andrew Bowie, Conservative MP for West Aberdeenshire beforehand instructed MailOnline: ‘Andrew has engaged with the Foreign Office after being contacted by Mr McKellar, and has given particulars of his case to the related minister.
‘Andrew’s workplace are giving Mr McKellar’s household recommendation and help, and are working to assist get him the medical assist he wants.’
Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai, stated: ‘This is a really unhappy state of affairs. Nobody would ever think about {that a} well mannered request to show the music down would end in a journey ban and prison prosecution.
‘Again and once more, we’re reminded {that a} easy journey to Dubai can certainly be a one-way ticket. If the case is not dropped, Ian will possible find yourself in prisons infamous for human rights violations, and he merely would not deserve it.’