TUNISIA TERROR ATTACK FAMILIES PRAISED
Law firm speaks out two years after beach horror which killed Welsh carer
T HE families of victims of the Tunisia terror attack have shown “tremendous courage” over the past two years as they have sought to find out exactly what happened on the fateful day, a law firm has said.
Two years on from the attack, when a gunman opened fire at a popular beach hotel killing 38 tourists, including Welsh care worker Trudy Jones, British families affected by the incident are putting their efforts into fundraising and awareness-raising as they seek to overcome the trauma of what happened, Irwin Mitchell law firm said.
An inquest into the deaths of 30 British citizens concluded earlier this year. It heard that the owners and staff at the Tunisian hotel where it happened could have done nothing before the attack that would have done more than “possibly make a difference”.
Judge Nicholas Loraine-Smith said he could not include “neglect” by holiday firm TUI or the owners of the five-star Riu Imperial Marhaba Hotel when ruling on the deaths of the British victims of Seifeddine Rezgui.
But families who lost loved ones during the attack said they had been left “shocked” by the lack of security measures at the hotel and called for the travel industry to learn lessons from the evidence presented at the inquest.
His Honour Judge Loraine-Smith has taken further submissions from specialist lawyers at Irwin Mitchell representing 22 families who lost loved ones as well as tour operator TUI, with which they booked their holidays, and the Government, the law firm said.
The judge is expected to publish his report into possible action to learn lessons from the tragedy in the coming months, the law firm added, and said a criminal investigation in Tunisia is also ongoing, with a hear- ing scheduled for October.
Irwin Mitchell represents the families of 22 people who were killed in the attack, including Trudy Jones from Blackwood, as well as many others who suffered injuries including gunshot wounds and shrapnel damage from exploded grenades.
It was previously reported that they are bringing civil claims for damages against TUI the tour operator.
Kylie Hutchison, a specialist international personal injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, said: “Our clients have shown tremendous courage over the past two years as they have sought to find out exactly what happened on that fateful day and whether any- thing more could have been done to prevent the attack, or limit its impact.
“The seven-week inquest was particularly difficult, sitting through hours of sensitive and often shocking evidence. They now await the coroner’s report and hope that recommendations will be made to reduce the risk of similar incidents in the future.”
Over the course of seven weeks, the inquest heard evidence from witnesses including the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), senior executives at tour operator TUI, and management from the Imperial Marhaba Hotel.
Judge Loraine-Smith said at the conclusion of the inquest into the deaths that the local police “most certainly” were responsible for tourist security.
He said: “Their response could and should have been effective.”
He added: “The response by the police was at best shambolic, at worst cowardly.”
The inquest had earlier heard that Tunisian police slowed down to deliberately delay their arrival on the scene of the massacre.
He said he would rule that the victims were all unlawfully killed.
Speaking previously, Nick Longman, managing director of TUI UK, said: “What happened on that tragic day on June 26, 2015, in Tunisia shocked and devastated all of us. Our immediate heartfelt condolences went to the families and friends of those so tragically affected.
“On behalf of everyone at TUI UK, I would like to again extend our deepest sympathy. We are so very sorry for the pain and loss those affected have suffered.
“Over these last few weeks we have heard very personal and very moving accounts of what happened during and after the terrorist attack.
“We have played a full and active role throughout the process of the inquests and we, like others, wanted to understand the specific circumstances surrounding these tragic events.
“We have now heard the coroner’s findings and his comments regarding the provision of security and visibility of travel advice. These are complex matters and we have already taken steps to raise awareness of the FCO’s Travel Aware campaign.
“Together with the travel industry in light of these comments we must now take some time to further reflect on these areas.
“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.”
Survivor Mathew James, from Pontypridd, was hailed a hero for taking a bullet for his now-wife Saera Wilson during the attack.