GREECE: The licence of the Louis Corcyra Beach hotel on the island of Corfu suspended after two British children died there of carbon monoxide poisoning

Greece on Tuesday (October 31) suspended the licence of a hotel on the island of Corfu after two British children died there of carbon monoxide poisoning. Greek Tourism Minister Fani Palli Petralia ordered local authorities to suspend the operating licence of the Louis Corcyra Beach hotel until an official investigation into the deaths is complete, the ministry said in a statement. It is the end of the summer tourist season however, and the last tourists were seen leaving the Corcyra Beach hotel, which closes on Tuesday. A Greek prosecutor is expected to file manslaughter charges, possibly against the hotel owners, management and the maintenance workers of the hotel this week. It is believed the deaths were caused by leaking fumes from a gas-fired boiler outside the room that entered through a small hole in the wall. Neil Shepherd, his children Christianne, 7, and Robert, 6, and his partner Ruth Beatson, from West Yorkshire, were found in their bungalow last Thursday (October 26) by a maid at the four-star beachfront hotel. The children were dead while the couple were in a coma. Doctors said on Tuesday both Shepherd and Beatson were in a regular ward in the hospital and their condition was stable and constantly improving. "They are in good condition. They are calm, and they are constantly being visited by relatives", said hospital doctor Constantina Dendia. Beatson's parents, Stephen and Helen Beatson, who have been at her side since the tragedy occurred, were seen visiting their daughter again on Tuesday. It is expected Beatson will be able to leave hospital in a few days, although it was not clear when Shepherd would be in a condition to leave. Dendia said psychologists were at the fathers side since he came out of the coma on Friday (October 27). He was told about the deaths of his children late on Sunday (October 29). Police Director Dimitris Binieris said he had taken testimony from both Shepherd and Beatson on Tuesday concerning what happened inside the room on that fateful day, but would not go into details. Binieris said testimony had also been taken from hotel owners and management and maintenance workers for the investigation. He said the investigation is now coming to an end and all reports were being handed over to the prosecutor to prepare charges. On Monday, Sharon Wood, the mother of the two children, flew their bodies back home to Britain on a chartered flight.

ITN Source | November 1, 2006

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