€100 awarded to couple in 'holiday from hell' action

A WEST Clare man has outlined to a court details of “a holiday from hell” in a hotel in Gran Canaria which he described as “the wild west”.

At the small claims court at Ennis District Court, Patrick and Maura Keane of Rineen, Miltown Malbay, were seeking €900 from Falcon Holidays and Gail Travel in Ennis arising from their two-week break at Green Park apartments, Playa del Ingles, Gran Canaria.

In court, Mr Keane said that during their two-week holiday last November-December, the couple’s sleep was interrupted night after night due to disturbances in nearby rooms. In evidence, Mr Keane said that on one of the nights in question, the man at reception told him that he had to call the police as one person had hit another with a bottle.

Mr Keane said there was continuous noise and disturbance on other nights, but that he had given up complaining to management as it was a waste of time.

Describing the apartments as the “wild west”, Mr Keane said that it “was a holiday from hell”.

He said they were offered alternative accommodation after they complained, but that they would have to pay the difference as the alternative was more expensive, and would have to pay for a taxi to get there. They declined the offer.

Falcon Holidays stated in a submission read in court that the booking agent in Ennis advised the Keanes to expect a “young and lively” clientele at the resort.

The submission stated: “The Green Park apartments would not be recommended for those of our customers looking for a quiet holiday.” Mr Keane said: “I have no problem with Gail Travel, I have no problem with Falcon Holidays. My problem was with the apartment complex. They didn’t seem to care how it was managed.”

Ann O’Reilly of Falcon Holidays told Mr Keane in court: “The nub of the problem is that you went to the wrong property. You chose the wrong place.” Mr Keane responded: “There was a duty on you to make sure that we were looked after.” Ms O’Reilly said that “loads and loads of people go back to the Green Park apartments, as they are very popular”.

Awarding the Keanes €100, Judge Joseph Mangan said he was satisfied there were efforts to dissuade Mrs Keane from booking these apartments when the booking was made in Ennis, and that an alternative was offered. He said behaviour the Keanes endured on holiday was unreasonable, and the situation could have been more effectively policed.