TUI snooped on Tunisia attack victim’s husband’s Facebook

Families of the Tunisia terrorism victims vowed to sue travel giant Tui last night as it emerged that the firm spied on a grieving husband’s Facebook page in an attempt to dodge the blame.

Relatives have launched a multi-million-pound compensation bid against the tour operator for failing to ensure the safety of their loved ones and not informing them of terrorism risks in the North African country.

Tui, the parent company of travel agent Thomson, was accused of burying Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) travel advice warning that further attacks were possible following a fatal shooting at a museum three months earlier.

As the six-week inquest ended into the 30 British victims of the massacre by an Islamic State gunman in the beach resort of Sousse in June 2015, it can be revealed that:

÷ Fanatic Seifeddine Rezgui, 23, carried out the attack at the five-star Riu Imperial Marhaba Hotel because it was an ‘easy target’;

÷ It had the fewest CCTV cameras of all nearby hotels and had just three security guards on duty on the day of the attack – one of whom was really the man who supplied the cushions on the beach;

÷ The coroner attacked the ‘shambolic’ and ‘cowardly’ police response, saying officers ‘deliberately’ took too long to reach the scene;

÷ All three ‘guards’ ran away.

In an astonishing move, lawyers for Tui snooped on social media to disprove one victim’s testimony that he did not know about the FCO advice.

James Windass, 66, whose wife Claire, 54, was shot dead next to him on his 65th birthday, said that he would never have booked the holiday if the travel company had warned him of the dangers of terrorism.

He told the inquest he did not see any links to the FCO advice on the Thomson website, adding: ‘If it had been put to me that there was a possible terrorist situation I would not have gone. End of story.’

But lawyers from Tui trawled through his Facebook account and dredged up a post from 2012 in an attempt to discredit his evidence.

James Windass, whose wife Claire (pictured) was shot dead next to him, said he would never have booked the holiday if TUI had informed him of the dangers of terrorism

Howard Stevens QC, for the travel firm, tried to suggest that Mr Windass must have known about the FCO website because he was a member of a Facebook group called ‘Cycle 66’ in which it was mentioned.

 It was a page set up to celebrate Mr Windass’ 2,500 mile cycle along Route 66 in the US in 2012, during which he was robbed. Mr Stevens asked him: ‘I don’t know whether you will remember this… but on August 25, 2012, you posted this: “If anybody has any experience of obtaining emergency travel documents and dealing with stolen passports in the US then any advice would be appreciated.” 

’ Mr Stevens said a Facebook user later commented on the post and referred him to the Foreign Office’s website. But Mr Windass told the court the post had actually been made by his son so he never saw it.

Tui dropped its prices by up to 30 per cent following the earlier attack on the Bardo Museum in the Tunisian capital and ‘pushed’ holidays to the country, according to Paul Thompson and his wife Zoe, who were in Sousse at the time of the attack.

Mr Thompson told the inquest that when his wife mentioned Bardo to a Thomson travel agent, they were told it was a ‘one-off’ and Tunisia was ‘100 per cent safe’.

The coroner, Judge Nicholas Loraine-Smith, yesterday said that the only reference Tui made to FCO travel advice in a brochure was in the visa section – and no visa was required for Tunisia. He also read at length from a ‘crib sheet’ produced two days after the Bardo attack for Thomson sales staff. In it, Tui advised staff to tell holidaymakers: ‘Tunisia remains a popular destination for us and customers are enjoying their holidays as normal.’

The firm refused to give refunds, telling customers: ‘Normal booking conditions will apply.’

Judge Nicholas Loraine-Smith criticised the crib sheet, saying: ‘Firstly it does not give any details of the [Bardo] attack. Secondly, it does not mention terrorism or risk of terrorism. And thirdly, although it refers to FCO advice, it doesn’t give any guidance as to where it’s going to be found.

Cheryl Stollery, wife of victim John Stollery (pictured), 58, said questions had been ‘responsibilities have not been accepted’ 

‘A number of witnesses have given evidence that they were told that Tunisia was safe. That evidence has been disputed by Tui. But a number of customers would not have gone to Tunisia had they seen the FCO advice.’

The inquest heard in 2013 a suicide bomber blew himself up in Sousse and a terror cell was caught in the area. That year alone, 1,347 people were tried for terrorism. In 2014, another cell was discovered.

Andrew Ritchie QC, representing 20 of the families, said Tui ‘neglected’ to take any steps to improve security at the Imperial Marhaba Hotel after the Bardo attack. Staff had no training in responding to terror attacks and one actually opened the door to the administration area where customers were hiding, allowing Rezgui in.

Yesterday Cheryl Stollery, wife of John Stollery, 58, a former paratrooper who was shot dead next to her as they tried to flee, said: ‘Questions have been left unanswered and responsibilities have not been accepted, so we are not able to rest or move on.’

During the inquest, Tui denied it had ‘pushed’ holidays to Tunisia and that its prices were determined by an algorithm. It also maintained that security was the responsibility of the hotels.

Nick Longman, managing director of Tui UK, said yesterday: ‘What happened in Tunisia shocked and devastated all of us.

‘We have already taken steps to raise awareness of the FCO’s Travel Aware campaign. As an industry we have adapted and we will need to continue to do so.’

 Haunting grief of wives and mothers left behind by terror

 by Sam Greenhill, Chief Reporter

Suzanne Richards (left) accused holiday firm TUI of putting profits before security

United in grief and resolve, they came to court to honour their loved ones and demand justice.

Holding hands among tearful relatives gathered on the steps, the two women did not know each other before the Tunisia atrocity.

Suzanne Richards’ son, father and brother were all massacred. She accused holiday firm TUI of putting profits before security.

Standing next to her with a pink ribbon was Cheryl Stollery. Her husband John, 58, died from a shot to the head as he tried to flee.

Mr Stollery had survived the Troubles serving as a Paratrooper in Northern Ireland and was a member of the funeral cortège of Lord Mountbatten after he was assassinated by the IRA in 1979.

Yesterday his 56-year-old widow branded the Tunisian police cowards and called for travel agencies to be forced to reveal terror risks at the point of booking.

‘Disappointingly, I still believe questions have been left unanswered and responsibilities have not been accepted, so we are not able to rest or move on,’ she said. ‘I wish to see all prospective holidaymakers being provided with mandatory security information.’

Mrs Stollery said nothing would ever be be normal again for her and her son Matt, 23.

She added: ‘John could have done so much more especially with Matt and me, with our friends, with his life.

‘He was special to so many people and as a social worker was important to the many children and young people he worked with.’

Mrs Richards condemned TUI and the Tunisian authorities, saying: ‘Customer safety did not seem to be a priority.’

Also with her at court was her son Owen, 18, who narrowly survived the murderous rampage. His elder brother Joel, 19, uncle Adrian Evans, 49, and grandfather Charles Evans, 78, were mercilessly cut down.

Joel Richards (centre), 19, his uncle Adrian Evans (right), and his grandfather Charles ‘Patrick’ Evans (left), 78 , were among the 30 Britons killed in the Tunisian beach massacre in 2015

With a bravery beyond his years, Owen, then aged 16, had desperately tried to help his grandfather escape the slaughter. But Mr Evans kept falling, telling his grandson: ‘He’s got me’.

The family, from the West Midlands, were enjoying the first day of a trip to celebrate Owen passing his GCSEs.

Mrs Richards said yesterday: ‘Within 12 hours of being on holiday, my eldest son, my dad and my brother were murdered and the only protection they had was each other. Words will never explain the devastation of losing my family in such a horrific manner and every day is a colossal struggle without them. But my mother and I are blessed we still have Owen which makes our lives worth living.’

Demanding lessons be learnt, she said: ‘I am convinced an attack of this nature was entirely predictable and there was a responsibility placed upon the Tunisian authorities and TUI to put structures and procedures in place to secure the safety of their customers.’

The inquest heard that Owen suffered a wound to his shoulder in the hail of bullets. He told British police that his brother Joel screamed ‘No’ three times before being blasted at close range.

The family of Scott Chalkley, 42, from Derby, who died alongside his partner Sue Davey, 43, from Staffordshire, said: ‘What is perhaps the saddest is that Scott was taken when he had found true happiness.

‘Despite being the eternal bachelor, Scott was smitten with Sue and they had just made the step of buying a house together. It was the celebration of that relationship that had taken them both to Tunisia.’

Kieran Mitchell, of law firm Slater and Gordon, said: ‘Hearing of TUI’s apparent lack of interest in security and the police’s disinterest in responding to the massacre has been extremely painful for Mr Chalkley’s family.’ Ray and Angie Fisher, from Leicester, were killed shortly before their golden wedding anniversary.

Their son Adam Fisher, 43, said they would not have gone had they seen travel advice about the risks.

Nick Longman, the managing director of TUI UK, said outside court: ‘We are so very sorry for the pain and loss those affected have suffered.

‘On that day the world changed. As an industry we have adapted and we will need to continue to do so.

‘This terrorist incident has left its mark on all of us and its impact will always be remembered.’