Thomas Cook says it is seeking vindication for employees facing charges over the death of two British children in a Corfu apartment.

Six-year-old Robert Shepherd and seven-year-old Christianne died in October 2006 when carbon monoxide leaked into their apartment. Their father, Neil Shepherd and girlfriend Ruth Beatson both slipped into a coma, but survived.

The Shepherds, from Wakefield in North Yorkshire, had booked an apartment at the Louis Corcyra Beach Hotel on Corfu through Thomas Cook. Two employees of the tour operator will now face trial in a Greek court over the deaths – a move that is welcomed by the childrens’ parents.

In a statement the family said: “As we stated from the outset, we hold Thomas Cook responsible for the events which led to the deaths of our children, so we are therefore very pleased that now the representatives of Thomas Cook will face trail.”

Defending its staff, Ian Derbyshire, executive director of Thomas Cook’s Holiday Division said: “Thomas Cook is distressed to hear that two of our colleagues are to be charged.”

Derbyshire said that the decision by the Greek courts goes against an earlier statement by the district attorney in December 2007, which stated that no charges would be brought against Thomas Cook staff members.

He said: “The accident involving Christianne and Robert in Corfu was a terrible tragedy and the company’s deepest condolences are with the children’s family and friends.”

He stands by his statement that it was an accident. According to Derbyshire an investigation by an independent gas expert of the apartment in the days after the incident found that a trip switch on the gas boiler that prevents carbon monoxide build-up had short circuited. He also said the resort had issued the company with a signed statement to say there was no gas in the property.

He added: “We are confident that our staff will be fully vindicated.”

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