Mother confronts Fontenla-Novoa over Corfu deaths
Former Thomas Cook boss Manny Fontenla-Novoa was confronted by the mother of two children who died from carbon monoxide poisoning on a Corfu holiday after he exercised his right not to answer questions at the inquest yesterday.
Sharon Wood told Fontenla-Novoa to ‘speak up for yourself’ when he refused to confirm statements he had made to police in 2009 or to answer other questions.
Robert and Christi Shepherd died while they were on holiday in 2006 with their father and step-mother at Louis Corcyra Beach Hotel, booked through Thomas Cook.
A hot water boiler in an external outhouse was found to have had a number of faults and was, according to experts, the source of the deadly carbon monoxide.
Coroner David Hinchliff had told Fontenla-Novoa that the Wakefield inquest was not a trial, but warned him that he might have to be involved in future criminal proceedings so didn’t have to answer questions which could incriminate him.
Fontenla-Novoa refused to confirm statements he had made in 2009 relating to the deaths, and refused to answer questions about Thomas Cook health and safety.
At one point, the family’s barrister Leslie Thomas QC asked the former Thomas Cook chief executive to ‘look my clients in the eyes’ and express his sympathy.
Fontenla-Novoa said: "I deeply regret the incident that occurred."
The child’s mother then said from the public gallery: "Speak up for yourself then."
Thomas also asked the former CEO about previous statements about how he and his staff would give full co-operation to investigators.
"Your staff have all sat there and declined to answer. Are you going to lead by example and co-operate?" he asked.
Fontenla-Novoa again refused to answer.
Later at the hearing, Thomas Cook Group chief executive Peter Fankhauser refused to apologise for the deaths of two children, saying the operator did nothing wrong.
Fankhauser was asked by a lawyer representing the children’s families to apologise to the family on behalf of the firm, reports the BBC.
"I feel incredibly sorry for the family – incredibly sorry. But I don’t have to apologise," replied Fankhauser.
When asked why he did not feel the need to apologise, he said: "I feel so thoroughly, from the deepest of my heart, sorry but there’s no need to apologise because there was no wrongdoing by Thomas Cook."
Fankhauser insisted his company had been lied to by people at the hotel who had said there was no gas supply.
The hearing continues.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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