Damages ruling ‘unlikely’ to affect package holidays

HOLIDAY firms are unlikely to make any significant changes to package tours following a Supreme Court ruling in favour of a woman who tripped in a Spanish hotel.

Falcon Holidays contested a High Court ruling that the travel firm was liable to compensate the holidaymaker for her injuries even though the accident happened abroad.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Could upheld the lower court’s decision, saying European laws which became part of Irish law in 1995 made the firm liable.

Yesterday the Irish Tour Operators’ Federation, which represents holiday firms, said members needed to read the Supreme Court’s judgement before commenting.

Chief executive Flan Clune: “We will then look at what the implications of the full judgment are and then we will comment.”

But Clem Walshe of Budget Travel said the Supreme Court ruling was unlikely to cause great upheaval in the package holiday industry.

“Irish holiday firms are leading the way in health and safety practice.”

He said he would be surprised if the judgment caused any great change to the way holiday operators did their business.

The Supreme Court case was triggered by an accidental fall suffered by holidaymaker Mary Scaife in Salou, Spain, in May 1998.

Ms Scaife won €32,000 damages against Falcon after the High Court ruled the firm was liable as she had a contract directly with them. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court dismissed Falcon’s appeal.

Yesterday Falcon Holidays said the judgment was a matter for the holiday industry and declined to comment further.