‘Nightmare is over’ as Wicklow man facing prison in Dubai over emojis returns hom

Wicklow man Stuart Quiney returned home last night after a three-month ordeal which saw him detained in Dubai, accused of sending ‘threatening’ emojis.

Stuart landed safely in Dublin Airport at 10.30pm where he was warmly greeted by friends and family members, before the 39-year-old property renovator made his way back to his Laragh home.

As he was waiting at the airport in Dubai, he commented: “I can’t wait for that moment of boarding the flight. It has been an emotional rollercoaster the past month. Probably feel the relief when I’m in the air. I’m still a bit on edge until I’m actually in the air.”

Stuart faced a harsh sentence in Dubai over allegations he sent “threatening” emojis from Ireland to a man in Dubai. He was taken into custody as soon as he arrived in Dubai on September 6, and was advised that he could face several years in prison under strict laws that prohibit rude, offensive or threatening text messages, even if expressed sarcastically or jokingly between close friends or loved ones.

There was a sense of relief when he was, instead, ordered to pay a fine of AED 10,000, which is the equivalent of €2,595.

Once Cllr Shane Langrell became aware of Stuart’s situation, he immediately made contact with Wicklow TD, Deputy Edward Timmins, and Taoiseach Simon Harris.

He was contacted by Stuart on Wednesday morning as he prepared to board his flight to return home.

Cllr Langrell said: “I received a text message from Stuart himself, letting me know he was waiting to board his flight. He expressed his gratitude to both Deputy Timmins and me for everything we have done to help him through this challenging time. Hearing directly from Stuart was incredibly heartwarming and reaffirmed the importance of our efforts.

“I also spoke with his mother Bernie, who, as you can imagine, was very emotional and excited. She confirmed that Stuart had cleared customs and was boarding his flight home. The travel ban was only lifted on Tuesday, and Stuart immediately booked the first available flight to reunite with his family. The news comes as a tremendous relief to Stuart’s family, particularly for Bernie and his father John, who have endured months of uncertainty and distress.

“Originally, Stuart was expected to remain in Dubai until after Christmas. However, with our intervention and persistent efforts, he will now be home in time to celebrate the Christmas holidays. This has been an incredibly challenging time for Stuart, his parents, and their entire family. I am overjoyed to see this case come to a positive conclusion and wish Stuart and his family a peaceful and happy Christmas together.”

Upon learning of Stuart’s case, the first thing Cllr Langrell did was to reach out to Stuart’s mother Bernie to offer his support.

He added: “It was a deeply concerning situation, as he faced the possibility of a prison sentence of several years if the matter was not resolved. I worked closely with Deputy Edward Timmins, who liaised directly with the Department of Foreign Affairs here in Ireland and the Irish Embassy in Abu Dhabi. Together, we coordinated with the Department of Justice to ensure the necessary paperwork was in place to lift the ban and secure Stuart’s return.

“I would like to extend my deepest thanks to Deputy Timmins for his huge efforts in supporting the Quiney family alongside me. His tireless work and dedication were instrumental in ensuring this positive outcome for Stuart and his family.”

Radha Stirling, chief executive of campaign group Detained in Dubai, spearheaded a campaign highlighting Stuart’s plight.

Announcing the news that Stuart was free and about to board his plane, she stated: “Absolutely ecstatic that Stuart’s nightmare is over. Stuart will get to spend Christmas at home and we are very happy for him and his family.

“These were serious allegations and it was touch and go, but after an intense few weeks of work, we were able to get Stuart home with just a AED 10,000 fine. The public should be aware that Stuart was lucky to get away without going to prison. His ordeal could have been prevented had he instructed a UAE Police Check before travel and we’d encourage repeat visitors to investigate their status before booking.”

Before boarding, Stuart told Ms Stirling: “Thanks again Radha for all you have done, my mother and father also can’t thank you enough for everything. Forever in your debt.”

Radha Stirling, founder and CEO of Detained in Dubai