It probably happens all the time at Stragill, you may be thinking. And you could be right.

But because Michelle Palmer was caught doing the dirty in the strict Muslim state of Dubai, she is now facing a jail sentence of up to five years for her less than ladylike behaviour.

We’ve all heard outlandish stories of thieves getting the odd hand lopped off, or of women being forced to cover up from head to toe and walk ten steps behind their husbands. But what is life really like in the United Arab Emirates, which is home to thousands of Irish ex-patriates, the mega rich and the uber cool from all over the world. Even Rod Stewart has bought land there, and Tom Cruise pops in all the time.

Derry woman, Pauline Kent, who moved to the country two years ago with her husband Tom, says it’s a combination of sun, sea and cheap alcohol that has the Irish flocking to (quite literally) the fastest growing place on earth.

“Before I moved there I thought it was going to be sunny beaches with pools and a hot climate and I was looking forward to that. I heard from a friend that there was a great ex-pat community and I liked that idea. We visited the place for a week to check it out and I didn’t know what to expect to be honest.

“One of the first things I noticed though was that, with the colour of my hair being blonde, a lot of the men just blatantly stared at me like I was from another planet. I think it is just their culture. They saw me as being different, everyone there has brown hair and eyes and wears different clothes.

“It was really annoying at the start. I had to just get used to it and I don’t even notice it now.”

Pauline began her life in Dubai as a teacher and Tom works for huge property company, Emaar, which is building the tallest tower in the world, the Burj.

But, she says, many single people go to the country hoping for a year-long holiday in the sun, which makes it easy for people like Michelle Palmer to get carried away.

“Obviously I am shocked at what she did because I wouldn’t behave like that,” said Pauline, “but I am not surprised it goes on. I can’t believe she lives here though because she should’ve known better. I would expect it more from a tourist but people are just in holiday mode all the time here.

“One of the things I was surprised as is that every night there are drink deals at restaurants, bars and nightclubs. There are loads of ladies nights with free or really cheap drinks for women. There is a lot of drinking going on. People are in the country working and every weekend is like a holiday, sun, beaches and cheap drink. People just go there to party.