A holidaymaker whose trip to the Canary Islands with Budget Travel was hampered by building work in her apartment block, noisy fighting among other residents and an attempt by a drunken man to climb through her bathroom window was awarded with the return of half the price of the holiday.
In the small claims court in Dublin yesterday Judge David Maughan ruled that Budget Travel return €1,269 to Marie Lakes from South Circular Road in Dublin.
Ms Lakes booked the trip last year to Gran Canaria for herself, her partner, her teenage son and her son's friend at a cost of €2,690, including insurance.
The first problem they encountered, said Ms Lakes, was when Budget Travel failed to inform them that they would miss almost a day of their holiday because their flight was to return early. "Then the building work began on the Monday and continued for the rest of the holiday - 11 days," she said.
Representing Budget Travel, Sharon Lynch said: "We claim the building work did not go on to the extent that has been reported."
The small claims court previously heard that Budget Travel first offered Ms Lakes a €100 voucher and later, when she initiated proceedings, they offered her €400.
Ms Lakes said they were disturbed continuously by other residents. "The man who tried to climb in the window cut himself on the glass. He was crying outside and asking for help."
In awarding Ms Lakes a 50 per cent refund on her holiday, Judge Maughan described the building work as "the bane of her life".