Suzy Richards 'hurt' by reopening of Tunisia terror hotel
A Tunisian hotel where three members of the same Black Country family were killed has reopened to the public.
The former Imperial Marhaba hotel has been renamed Kantaoui Bay in order to erase 'the painful memory of the drama' according to its owner.
An IS-inspired gunman killed Joel Richards, 19, his grandfather Patrick Evans, 78, and uncle Adrian Evans, 44, at the hotel in June 2015.
They were among 30 British holidaymakers murdered by gunman Seifeddine Rezgui.
The owner of the hotel in Sousse said it has undergone a £1.9 million revamp, with 'a view to the future'.
However Suzy Richards, from Wednesbury, who lost her son, brother and father in the massacre, has said improvements to security at the hotel are 'hurtful' – and too little, too late.
She told the Express & Star: "Personally I think it's hurtful that they've now decided to spend £1.9 million on refurbishing the hotel and putting in adequate security which should have been there in the first place.
"They're investing now but they didn't invest before – why hadn't they done this before 2015?
"I knew that they would reopen it eventually but I'm upset that the hotel manger has never once apologised to the families or even had the respect to come over and give evidence [during the inquests].
"At the end of the day I'm just hurt that they've reopened it now and decided to invest in security by providing CCTV cameras and a control room that should have been there in the first place at a five-star hotel.
"They should have already had these checks and security.
"I'm happy they're doing it for future customers but why wasn't it done already? I would never return to Tunisia myself."
