TUI and Irwin Mitchell confirm Tunisia terrorist attack settlement

Tour operator TUI and law firm Irwin Mitchell confirmed yesterday (6 January 2022) that a settlement had been reached in a civil case between TUI and the families of those killed during a terrorist attack at a TUI beach resort in 2015.

Electrical engineering student, Seifeddine Rezgui, 22, shot at holidaymakers on the beach at TUI’s Riu Imperial Marhaba hotel complex on the Sousse coast in Tunisia. 38 people were killed, including 30 Britons, and over 50 were injured. Irwin Mitchell brought a civil case on behalf of 83 victims of the attack.

A seven-week trial of liability issues had been scheduled in the High Court for February. The claimants alleged the travel operator was responsible for “significant safety breaches” at the hotel, which resulted in the tragedy. These allegations were denied in full by TUI. 

The trial was set to be complex, with evidence from more than 50 witnesses and experts. Some of the evidence was considered sensitive for security reasons and was to be heard in private. 

The statement said: “The tragic events of 26 June 2015 in Tunisia shocked and devastated us all and changed the lives of those affected forever.

“TUI has always expressed heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of those caught up in the terrorist attack that day and continue to extend deepest sympathy.

“The Claimants have fought tirelessly to understand how the attack happened and to seek to ensure that lessons have been learned so that other families are not affected by similar tragedy. 

“TUI has worked collaboratively with the Claimants and their representatives, Irwin Mitchell, to reach a settlement without admission of liability or fault and in recognition of the wholly exceptional circumstances of the case, and in the hope that it will go some way to assisting the Claimants.

“TUI appreciates how difficult it must be to move on from such a horrific incident but hopes today will provide the opportunity for those affected to start to do so.”