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| Six on Corfu child death charges | Six on Corfu child death charges |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Six people have been charged with manslaughter over the deaths of two children in Corfu, Greek officials say. | |
| Christianne Shepherd and her brother Robert were on holiday with their father and his partner when they were poisoned by carbon monoxide gas. | Christianne Shepherd and her brother Robert were on holiday with their father and his partner when they were poisoned by carbon monoxide gas. |
| But Thomas Cook denied suggestions that one of its employees had been charged, or that police had been in contact. | |
| The six are also charged with causing bodily harm through negligence and face up to five years in jail if convicted. | |
| Court officials said the hotel director, general manager and maintenance manager, as well as the air conditioning installation manager and a maintenance employee have been charged. | Court officials said the hotel director, general manager and maintenance manager, as well as the air conditioning installation manager and a maintenance employee have been charged. |
| The same charges were brought against an official from British tour operator Thomas Cook, who inspected the hotel, the authorities said. | |
| At no time has the Greek police been in touch with Thomas Cook despite making it clear that we want to cooperate fully in any investigation Thomas Cook | At no time has the Greek police been in touch with Thomas Cook despite making it clear that we want to cooperate fully in any investigation Thomas Cook |
| BBC correspondent Malcolm Brabant said Greek police had not released the names of those charged due to legal restrictions. | BBC correspondent Malcolm Brabant said Greek police had not released the names of those charged due to legal restrictions. |
| The family, from Horbury, West Yorkshire, were staying in a four-star bungalow at the Louis Corcyra Beach Hotel when the carbon monoxide gas seeped into the property. | The family, from Horbury, West Yorkshire, were staying in a four-star bungalow at the Louis Corcyra Beach Hotel when the carbon monoxide gas seeped into the property. |
| The children's father Neil Shepherd, 38, and his girlfriend, Ruth Beatson, 27, survived the poisoning last Thursday and are being treated at Pinderfields General Hospital in Wakefield, West Yorkshire. | The children's father Neil Shepherd, 38, and his girlfriend, Ruth Beatson, 27, survived the poisoning last Thursday and are being treated at Pinderfields General Hospital in Wakefield, West Yorkshire. |
| The Greek tourism ministry has already withdrawn the hotel's licence and indicated this move would be permanent if the deaths were established to be the responsibility of the management. | The Greek tourism ministry has already withdrawn the hotel's licence and indicated this move would be permanent if the deaths were established to be the responsibility of the management. |
| Communication problems | Communication problems |
| In a statement, Thomas Cook said it would stringently defend itself against any charges but that it had been left in the dark over the nature of police action taken over the deaths. | In a statement, Thomas Cook said it would stringently defend itself against any charges but that it had been left in the dark over the nature of police action taken over the deaths. |
| "We are not aware that a conclusion has been reached in the ongoing investigation in Corfu. Neither have we been made aware of any preliminary charges being brought against any British tour operators or Thomas Cook. | "We are not aware that a conclusion has been reached in the ongoing investigation in Corfu. Neither have we been made aware of any preliminary charges being brought against any British tour operators or Thomas Cook. |
| "At no time has the Greek police or any other authority been in touch with Thomas Cook despite making it clear that we want to cooperate fully in any investigation." | "At no time has the Greek police or any other authority been in touch with Thomas Cook despite making it clear that we want to cooperate fully in any investigation." |
| The company said it was undertaking an internal investigation and that the hotel had been audited according to UK guidelines. | The company said it was undertaking an internal investigation and that the hotel had been audited according to UK guidelines. |
| A British coroner earlier opened two inquests into the deaths of the children, who were six and seven. | A British coroner earlier opened two inquests into the deaths of the children, who were six and seven. |
| West Yorkshire Coroner David Hinchliff earlier promised to "fully, fairly and fearlessly" investigate the deaths of the children. | West Yorkshire Coroner David Hinchliff earlier promised to "fully, fairly and fearlessly" investigate the deaths of the children. |