The family of Blackwood woman Trudy Jones, who was a victim of the Tunisia terror attack, is set to sue Thomson Holidays’ owners, TUI Group, after a coroner ruled that all 30 Britons were “unlawfully killed”.
Judge Nicholas Loraine-Smith delivered his verdict on Tuesday February 28, as the seven-week inquest into the deaths of Ms Jones and the 29 other Britons came to its conclusion.
Care home worker Ms Jones, 51, was killed on Friday, June 26, 2015, when lone gunman Seifeddine Rezgui opened fire on a beach in the resort of Sousse, killing 38 people.
The mother-of-four was holidaying in Tunisia with friends and been due to return home on the Sunday after the attack.
Judge Loraine-Smith rejected claims that neglect by the tour operator and hotel had played a part in the attack, because the law regarding neglect did not cover tourists who voluntarily agreed to go on holiday.
Ms Jones’ friend, Ceri Lock, told BBC Radio Wales the conclusion would not help the family.
She said: “The Tunisian police have a lot to answer for.
“Trudy’s family and friends will never, ever, come to terms with what’s happened. [Her death] was so unnecessary and the fact it could’ve been prevented has made it worse.”
Judge Loraine-Smith ruled the police response was “at best shambolic and at worst cowardly”, and following his summary, a solicitor for 22 of the families said her clients would begin legal proceedings against TUI, through whom each of the 30 victims had booked their trip.
Kylie Hutchison, solicitor at Irwin Mitchell, said: “During the past seven weeks both the coroner and the families who we represent have heard shocking evidence about the level of security precautions at the Imperial Marhaba hotel at the time of the terrorist attack.
“It is now crucial that the whole travel industry learns from what happened in Sousse to reduce the risk of similar catastrophic incidents in future.
“On behalf of our clients who lost members of their families and those who suffered injuries in this terrible incident, we will now be preparing to commence civil proceedings against TUI.
“These inquests were about those who tragically lost their lives. They must never be forgotten, and the families hope that no one else will ever have to suffer the same fate in the future.”
The inquest into the attack, which was held at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, had been ongoing since Monday, January 16, and previously heard how Ms Jones was identified by her glittery toenail varnish.
Nick Longman, TUI UK’s managing director, said: “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.
How can the tragic and appalling murder of Trudy Jones be the fault of the TUI Group. This person booked a holiday of their own free will and visited a country described by the UK Government as having a high threat of terrorism. Terrorism is the unlawful use of violence against civilians to cause maximum damage and strike terror into those they are attacking, it is a random act that could happen anywhere at anytime, no company can defend against it or prevent it, so surely the TUI Group can not be held responsible for this persons tragic death.
Such a tragic loss of 30 lives – including that of Trudy Jones.
Perhaps the families would be better off if they tried sueing the Tunisian Governments Police / National Guard for their pathetic and cowardly response.