Parents hit out after holiday reps cleared over gas deaths

Sharon Wood and Neil Shepherd said holiday firm Thomas Cook should shoulder some of the blame for the tragedy. Their children Christi Shepherd, seven, and her six-year-old brother Bobby, from Horbury, near Wakefield, died after a faulty boiler leaked gas into their bungalow on the Greek island of Corfu.

Three staff at the hotel complex where the children died were last night jailed for seven years each after being found guilty of manslaughter by negligence. Holiday reps Richard Carson, 28, and Nicola Gibson, 26, were cleared of the offence, while a civil engineer was given probation of two years for breaching building regulations.

Following the verdicts and sentencing, Mrs Wood said: "Our feelings go beyond disappointment for we consider each of the defendants a link in a chain of events which led to our children losing their lives – each of these links vital, each capable of preventing the tragedy.

"I have and always will include Thomas Cook in this link. They are the biggest travel company in the world."

The children were on a half-term holiday in October 2006 with their father and his partner, Ruth Beatson, who were both left in a coma as a result of the accident but survived.

During the trial the court heard that carbon monoxide fumes at the Louis Corcyra Beach Hotel in Gouvia leaked into the bungalow from an outhouse next door.

The court heard expert opinion that there was a "catalogue of failings" in the installation and maintenance of the gas boiler.

Retired mechanical engineer Harry Rodgers, who inspected the bungalow, said it was the worst installation he had seen in 50 years.

Of the 11 people on trial over the deaths, four were convicted. Hotel manager Georgios Chrysikopoulos, head of the hotel technical department Petros Stoyiannos and hotel electrician Christos Louvros were each sentenced to seven years. Civil engineer Dimitrios Xidias was given two years probation.

Outside court Mr Shepherd said: "We paid money to Thomas Cook to send us to a hotel they considered safe. Our faith in this company was misplaced and abused.

"During the court proceedings here in Corfu we were told that a 22-year-old with no health and safety qualifications was considered by the tour company a competent person to assess the health and safety of our children. How wrong can they be?

"We believe that the health and safety management system adopted by Thomas Cook failed.

"We still believe that had the process been followed to the letter Christi and Bobby would still be alive now.

"We believe that the directors of Thomas Cook should all bow their heads in shame."

Mr Shepherd struggled to hold his emotion as he said: "We also ask that now the trial is concluded the hotel owners carry out their promise of demolishing the bungalow and replacing it with a suitable memorial to our beloved children."

In a statement, Thomas Cook said: "What happened in Corfu was a tragedy and the thoughts and sympathy of everyone at Thomas Cook will always be with the family and friends of Christianne and Robert Shepherd.

"We have always maintained that this tragic accident was the result of a unique set of circumstances, none of which could be the responsibility of the company or Richard Carson and Nicola Gibson."

Thomas Cook UK and Ireland chief executive officer Pete Constanti said: "There has been a very thorough and robust trial in Corfu and we are pleased that this has identified those responsible, and that the court has confirmed Richard and Nicola's innocence.

"Both individuals are exemplary members of our team and we are pleased that they have now been fully vindicated."