TC staff will stand trial for Corfu deaths after appeal is lost
Thomas Cook staff will still have to face trial in Greece following the carbon monoxide poisoning of two British children in Corfu.
The two employees were hoping they would not have to face charges following an appeal by Corfu’s District Attorney.
But yesterday a judge dismissed the appeal and said the pair must stand trial later this year, alongside representatives from the management and maintenance contractors at the Louis Corcyra Beach Hotel.
The British children, Robert Shepherd, 6, and his sister Christianne, 7, died due to a faulty boiler in their family apartment at the hotel in October 2006.
According to reports in the Telegraphy, the TC employees are Richard Carson, 26, a health and safety inspector, and Nicola Gibson, 24, a holiday representative.
But TC would not confirm these reports.
A statement from Thomas Cook said: “Thomas Cook would like to make clear that the appeal was set down by the District Attorney of the Corfu Appeal Court, of his own volition, before the Appeal Court of Corfu, and not the company.
“Their appeal proposed that the two Thomas Cook individuals should play no further part in the legal proceedings, since they were in no way to be held responsible for this tragic accident.
“Thomas Cook has now been advised that this appeal has not been upheld by the Appeal Court and that both individuals will form part of a trial, along with members of the hotel management and external maintenance contractors, at some point in the future.
“Thomas Cook continues to stand behind, and fully supports, the two people concerned and believes that they will be vindicated in full when the case is heard.
“The company has and will continue to cooperate fully with the Greek authorities.
“Even though the District Attorney’s appeal has not been upheld, we continue to support and stand by the two people concerned and believe they will be vindicated when the case is heard.â€
“The company’s thoughts will always be with the family and friends of Christianne and Robert Shepherd.â€
Thomas Cook said it had a signed contract from the hotel advising there was no gas used in the property.
Along with other UK tour operators, it undertook comprehensive audits of the property, compliant with the Federation of Tour Operators guidelines.
By Bev Fearis
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.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airbnb eyes a loyalty program but details remain under wraps
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026