Holiday firm flies to the rescue of couple's sun-wedding dream
Emer Kearns and Michael Gardner, with their 16-month-old daughter Sophie, almost had their dreams of a wedding in Gran Canaria dashed.
Saturday November 28 2009
A couple whose hopes of a dream wedding in the sun were nearly dashed after the collapse of Budget Travel will now get to walk down the aisle after all.
The Christmas nuptials of Emer Kearns (26) and Michael Gardner (29) were almost cancelled for a second time after half of their wedding party had been booked to fly out with Budget Travel.
The devastated couple, from outside Mountmellick, Co Laois, were preparing to cancel their second planned wedding in as many years. They were due to tie the knot in Cyprus in August 2008 but postponed it after learning Emer was pregnant.
Speaking to the Irish Independent, she said: "When this latest bombshell dropped, I couldn't believe it. I heard about Budget on the radio. Then Michael rang me and said, 'don't you realise my family is booked with them'," she said.
Emer contacted the Commission for Aviation Regulation, which is responsible for refunding customers. But she held out little hope of a speedy resolution when she heard the regulator was still dealing with claims lodged in mid-July.
She turned to the 'Gerry Ryan Show' on RTE 2fm and issued an appeal. Falcon Holidays stepped into the breach and will provide Michael's family with a holiday. Falcon will deal with the commission and then take the refund.
- Breda Heffernan
Irish Independent
