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THE MOTHER OF two children killed by carbon monoxide poisoning in Corfu in 2006 has said she will never forgive the travel agent Thomas Cook who have been found guilty of breaching their duty of care.
Bobby (6) and Christi Shepherd (7) were fatally poisoned by fumes from a faulty boiler in their room at the Louis Corcyra Beach Hotel on the Greek Island in October 2006.
An inquest jury found the travel agent had breached its duty of care towards the children after West Yorkshire coroner David Hinchliff instructed them that the only conclusion they could arrive at was unlawful killing.
Following the inquest, the Shepherd children’s parents Sharon Wood and Neil Shepherd made emotional statements outside the court.
“Thomas Cook put Christi and Bobby in that bungalow and I will always hold Thomas Cook responsible for their deaths,” she said.
Thomas Cook said they offered our family practical and financial support. This is simply not true.
Whilst we appreciate there were criminal convictions in Corfu, it is clear that Thomas Cook could and should have identified that lethal boiler.
I would also like to say that there can never be true justice for the deaths of my two innocent children, their whole lives ahead of them.
Rest in peace now our beautiful angels.
“Thomas Cook should hang its head in shame as a result of these deaths. The families of Christi and Bobby have waited nearly nine years for an apology – they are still waiting,” the family’s lawyer, Leslie Thomas QC, told The Guardian.
Family members also spoke of their anger that the travel agency has refused to apologise for the deaths.
Bobby and Christi’s father Neil fell into a coma with his partner Ruth as a result of the poisoning and came very close to dying also. He accused Thomas Cook of failing his family and lambasted the tour operator for refusing to answer questions about the deaths.
“From start to finish, Thomas Cook have hidden behind a wall of silence and they have refused to answer any questions for almost nine years,” he said outside court.
Thomas Cook are not blameless; we are disappointed they have refused to apologise to us.
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Surely it was the fault of the guy who last fixed the boiler?
I think they’re arguing that Thomas Cook should have done a risk assessment on the property? Could be wrong.
A travel agent is supposed to manually & regularly inspect every hotel it sends people to? And stay in business?
No, but they do have the duty to ensure that all locations they have a contract with have been legally inspected, passed, and are safe for use by their customers. Due diligence.
Not sure who exactly but there was some convictions in Corfu aswell so maybe it was the maintenance and the complex / owner that was involved in those convictions .
More appropriate to bring the owner of the place to court?
Chris, the guy could have done a great job, but it might have been serviced since he touched it in 1860. There’s little detail in the article so you can’t really jump to conclusions
They couldn’t inspect every single boiler, in every single room, in every single hotel they work with but they should have certain minimum standards that should be met before working with a hotel, Carbon monoxide detectors in each room for example. Easily avoidable deaths, a tragedy.
I read more detail on this from SKY News a few weeks ago – the boiler was serviced by some donkey of a plumber a few months before this happened. So it’s both his fault, and the fault of the hotel. But not Thomas Cook.
They took the word of the company regarding the heating system , the boiler was old and rusty in an outhouse , there was no flue installed . the flue was just dumped on the floor . there was holes drilled into the walls of the bungalow for vents but had not been filled in and it only took one minute for the bungalow to fill up with carbon monoxide .
I can’t believe it’s been 9 years. It feels like it only happen last year. For the parents it must feel like an eternity.
Chris you insensitive toss pot
Mark you gay sailor.
Grow up !
What’s the difference between a gay sailor and a straight sailor……? About 2 double vodkas ya tosspot…! Don’t knock us we’re now being used to keep the Russians away!!
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