West Yorkshire Mum Launches Fresh Attack On Thomas Cook

The West Yorkshire mum of two children, who were killed by carbon monoxide poisoning on holiday, has accused Thomas Cook's former chief executive of trying to use their memory to gain public sympathy.

Mum Sharon Wood said she heard that Harriet Green was in line for a bonus-related payout from the Sunday papers

It's been reported that Ms Green could receive six million shares next month and she's said she will give two million of them to a charity of the parents choosing.

But mum Sharon is accusing her of only doing it to ease any guilt.

If Harriet Green feels the need to offload some of that money to salve her conscience, that is her decision to make, but to try and gain public empathy by attaching her donation to the memory of my Christi and Bobby I find abhorrent.''

Ms Green wasn't in charge when the incident happened but led Thomas Cook until last year, during a period in which the firm took legal action against the hotel involved and fought to stop inquests into the children's deaths taking place in the UK.

The children's mum suggested that Thomas Cook should reconsider'' handing out the bonus because the success of a family-friendly company should not just be about money and share prices.

It must also consider the well-being and safety of its customers whilst on holiday and the way they are subsequently treated,'' she said.

She added: We believe that when she took the helm after this tragedy she did not move the company on with sensitivity towards us as a family.

If the company's brand has suffered, those at the top of the organisation must accept responsibility in relation to the decisions made over the handling of us as a bereaved family.''

She's denied that the children's father had received a letter offering a meeting with Ms Green, despite apparently writing to her at least five times since July 2013.

She added: As for me, Harriet Green has never had the humanity or compassion to write to me as the bereaved mother of Christi and Bobby and, as far as I am aware, she makes no claim to having done this.

I would have liked to have met with Harriet Green this week but I have been told that she is out of the country.''

Ms Green is said to be "deeply saddened"that Ms Wood views her charity donation as a way to salve her conscience''.

On hearing of the condemnation, Ms Green's spokesman said:"She is deeply saddened that Ms Wood feels like this''.

It is believed that Ms Green, who is currently abroad, has offered to travel to meet the family in the next week.

It is suggested that, amid the tension, that attempts at ongoing contact have been made through lawyers.

Ms Green did not tell the family of her bonus but it is believed an effort was made to to alert the family of the offer of the donation before it became public.

Ms Green's spokesman added that "the communication from us definitely happened''.