This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/may/20/thomas-cook-says-sorry-over-handling-of-chidrens-deaths-compensation-case

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Thomas Cook says sorry over handling of children's deaths compensation case Thomas Cook says sorry over handling of children's deaths compensation case
(about 11 hours later)
The chief executive of Thomas Cook has taken personal responsibility for the company’s insensitivity over the deaths of two children at a hotel in Corfu nine years ago, and has said he wants to help their parents get on with their lives. The chief executive of Thomas Cook is to meet the family of two children who died at a hotel in Corfu nine years ago, after taking personal responsibility for the company’s insensitivity over their deaths. Peter Fankhauser said on Wednesday that he wants to help the parents get on with their lives.
On Monday, the travel company donated the £1.5m compensation it received from the hotel’s owner to Unicef. It did so after the parents of Bobby and Christi Shepherd said Thomas Cook’s reputation appeared to be worth more than their children’s lives.On Monday, the travel company donated the £1.5m compensation it received from the hotel’s owner to Unicef. It did so after the parents of Bobby and Christi Shepherd said Thomas Cook’s reputation appeared to be worth more than their children’s lives.
Bobby and Christi, aged six and seven, died at the Louis Corcyra Beach hotel in 2006 when they were overcome by fumes from a defective boiler. On Sunday, Thomas Cook said it had received compensation “after it was clear the hotel was responsible”.Bobby and Christi, aged six and seven, died at the Louis Corcyra Beach hotel in 2006 when they were overcome by fumes from a defective boiler. On Sunday, Thomas Cook said it had received compensation “after it was clear the hotel was responsible”.
Thomas Cook said the donation to Unicef meant it had made no money from suing Louis Group for failing to ensure the accommodation was safe. Another £1.5m went directly to Thomas Cook’s insurer. Most of the £1.5m Thomas Cook donated to Unicef, the United Nations children’s organisation, covered legal fees, the company said.Thomas Cook said the donation to Unicef meant it had made no money from suing Louis Group for failing to ensure the accommodation was safe. Another £1.5m went directly to Thomas Cook’s insurer. Most of the £1.5m Thomas Cook donated to Unicef, the United Nations children’s organisation, covered legal fees, the company said.
Bobby and Christi’s mother, Sharon Wood, said at the weekend that her family had received about £350,000 in compensation from the hotel group for the children’s deaths.Bobby and Christi’s mother, Sharon Wood, said at the weekend that her family had received about £350,000 in compensation from the hotel group for the children’s deaths.
Peter Fankhauser, who took over as Thomas Cook’s chief executive in November, said: “I feel truly sorry about the tragic deaths of Bobby and Christi. I accept that there have been many mistakes of how this case has been handled. Personally I could have done better also, so I’m sorry.” Fankhauser, who took over as Thomas Cook’s chief executive in November, said: “I feel truly sorry about the tragic deaths of Bobby and Christi. I accept that there have been many mistakes of how this case has been handled. Personally I could have done better also, so I’m sorry.”
He said he did not want to comment further about the children’s family in public but he indicated that he would seek to make amends. Thomas Cook said on Monday he had written to Bobby and Christi’s parents. He said he did not want to comment further about the children’s family in public but he indicated that he would seek to make amends. A Thomas Cook spokeswoman confirmed that a meeting between Fankhauser and the family would take place on Thursday.
The family criticised Thomas Cook for failing to consult them about where the £1.5m donation would go. The children’s father, Neil Shepherd, said Thomas Cook had operated behind a “wall of silence” and refused to answer his questions for nine years.The family criticised Thomas Cook for failing to consult them about where the £1.5m donation would go. The children’s father, Neil Shepherd, said Thomas Cook had operated behind a “wall of silence” and refused to answer his questions for nine years.
“I believe this was the right thing to do. Unicef is a global children’s charity and we believe we did the right thing,” Fankhauser said.“I believe this was the right thing to do. Unicef is a global children’s charity and we believe we did the right thing,” Fankhauser said.
Fankhauser has worked at Thomas Cook since 2001 and ran the UK business for two years before becoming chief executive. He declined to say what he intended to do to help Bobby and Christi’s family.Fankhauser has worked at Thomas Cook since 2001 and ran the UK business for two years before becoming chief executive. He declined to say what he intended to do to help Bobby and Christi’s family.
“I’m not going to communicate in public about what we are going to do. The company since nine years in this relation did mistakes. We are sorry for that so we want not to do the same mistakes. We want to help the family to move on and that is it.“I’m not going to communicate in public about what we are going to do. The company since nine years in this relation did mistakes. We are sorry for that so we want not to do the same mistakes. We want to help the family to move on and that is it.
“I don’t want to repeat the mistakes the company did in the past. My intention is to see how they can move forward with their lives. I’m sorry about what they have had to go through. I’m personally sorry as a father myself.” Asked if he wanted to end the wall of silence, Fankhauser said: “Yes.”“I don’t want to repeat the mistakes the company did in the past. My intention is to see how they can move forward with their lives. I’m sorry about what they have had to go through. I’m personally sorry as a father myself.” Asked if he wanted to end the wall of silence, Fankhauser said: “Yes.”
Last Wednesday, an inquest jury reached a verdict of unlawful killing and said Thomas Cook had breached its duty of care. The foreman read out a series of conclusions, including that the hotel misled Thomas Cook about its gas supply and that the holiday firm’s health and safety audit of the complex was inadequate.Last Wednesday, an inquest jury reached a verdict of unlawful killing and said Thomas Cook had breached its duty of care. The foreman read out a series of conclusions, including that the hotel misled Thomas Cook about its gas supply and that the holiday firm’s health and safety audit of the complex was inadequate.
Comments on social media have expressed outrage about Thomas Cook’s handling of the matter, raising the prospect of a boycott by customers. Fankhauser said he had not received letters of protest from the public and that there was no slowdown in strong bookings from UK customers. Comments on social media have expressed outrage about Thomas Cook’s handling of the matter, raising the prospect of a boycott by customers. The website Mumsnet has pulled advertising for the travel firm following complaints from members. Justine Roberts, CEO of Mumsnet, said: “Mumsnet users – understandably – felt that we should stop promotional activity for Thomas Cook on the site, given the details that emerged during the inquest, so we took the decision to pull the campaign. Thomas Cook also wanted to call a halt to things, as they were getting lots of criticism on the site.”
“We see so far no impact on our booking patterns but this is not the main concern now. We don’t see an impact so far,” he said. Fankhauser said he had not received letters of protest from the public and that there was no slowdown in strong bookings from UK customers. “We see so far no impact on our booking patterns but this is not the main concern now. We don’t see an impact so far,” he said.