Thomas Cook Faces Corfu Deaths Backlash

Thomas Cook is facing a consumer backlash after it refused to say sorry for the deaths of two children in Corfu and accepted compensation over the incident.

Bobby and Christi Shepherd died as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning while on holiday with their father and stepmother in 2006.

During an inquest into the deaths of the youngsters, from Horbury, West Yorkshire, Thomas Cook chief executive Peter Fankhauser said he had "nothing to apologise for".

But the inquest found the children had been 'unlawfully killed' when they were overcome by fumes from a faulty boiler at the resort where they were staying.

A jury decided Thomas Cook, the firm through which the family bought the holiday, had "breached its duty of care" .

On Monday, Thomas Cook announced it was giving to UNICEF £1.5m of the compensation it received from owners of the Louis Corcyra Beach Hotel.

As he made the announcement, Mr Fankhauser said: "I believe this is the right thing to do and I apologise to the family for all they have gone through.

"Thomas Cook has not in any way profited from our claim against the hotel owner."

But, on Tuesday, it emerged the parents not been consulted, leaving the holiday firm facing a storm of criticism on Twitter and other social media.

Others condemned the fact that the total compensation Thomas Cook received was £3m and that its insurers had held on to the extra £1.5m to cover its legal costs.

It is understood that the £3m was around ten times the amount the parents received.

Alistair Vince tweeted: "Don't know who is advising you #ThomasCook but I'd fire them. Disgraceful response, company reputation in tatters. Pathetic."

Gilly Da Silva said on Twitter: "Anyone seen on a @thomascook holiday should hang their heads in shame #supportthefamilywholostheirkids"

Hundreds of other posters expressed similar views.

At least two Facebook pages have been created calling on people to boycott the firm, with a total of at least 5,000 'likes'.

Petitions have also been started, either calling for a boycott or for the firm to "apologise properly", on Change.org and 38degree.org.uk.

Overnight on Monday, the Times reported that at least £75m had been wiped off the value of the firm's shares as worried investors dumped stock.

Monthly Google searches for "Thomas Cook" have dropped 18% compared with the same time last year, according to the Financial Times.

The share price rallied slightly on Tuesday but was still down on the value last Wednesday, when the inquest jury delivered its verdict.