From Travel Mole

Thomas Cook has paid out £50,000 to a couple whose Caribbean beach wedding was ruined by sickness at their four-star hotel.

The tour operator agreed to pay the compensation after the couple took legal action after falling ill during their two-week wedding and honeymoon at the Melia Caribe Tropical Resort in the Dominican Republic.

The bride and groom, Terry and Keeley Ford from Birmingham, plus five other members of the wedding party fell ill with sickness, vomiting, and diarrhoea.

The bride, 45, became violently sick just hours after saying her vows and was in bed for four days.

The mother of two claimed “almost” raw food was served up at the hotel restaurant and said the same utensils were used for uncooked and cooked meat during their stay in August 2009.

The groom, 53, also fell ill from a bug which caused vomiting and diarrhoea.

His 21-year-old son fell ill before the wedding and Keeley’s parents and her children, 11 and 15 at the time, also fell ill.

Her father, Anthony, who had previously suffered from bowel cancer, was diagnosed with gastroenteritis on his return and needed time off work.

The family said their “nightmare” holiday was ruined further when a hurricane hit the hotel causing flash flooding.

Clare Pearson a specialist travel lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing the family, said: “This trip, which was meant to be a wedding celebration as well as a holiday, was ruined because of the illness the wedding party suffered and unfortunately nothing can turn back the clock to change that.

“Whilst the hurricane was unfortunate and could not have been predicted, holidaymakers’ welfare must be the top priority for tour operators at all times and efforts must be made to ensure that hotels are following good hygiene practices when it comes to food and cleanliness.”

Irwin Mitchell has previously secured a settlement for holidaymakers who travelled to the resort in 2007 and also suffered illness.

The hotel is no longer listed on Thomas Cook’s UK website but it is still featured on its website for the French market.

A Thomas Cook UK & Ireland spokesperson said: “The health and safety of our customers is of paramount importance. We extend our apologies to Mr and Mrs Ford following their illness while staying at the Meli-¡ Caribe Tropical Hotel in the Dominican Republic in 2009, and confirm that we have reached an agreement with their legal representatives.

“Thomas Cook closely audits all of the hotels to which it operates to ensure that only the very highest health and hygiene standards are in place. We would like to assure customers that incidents of this type are rare, as we work closely with all our hotel partners to ensure that only the very highest hygiene standards are maintained.”

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PHOTO: The couple, from Kings Heath, say their wedding turned into ‘an absolute nightmare’ (BBC: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-birmingham-27817211