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From The Times

October 1, 2007

Maldives comes to aid of couple hurt by bomb after insurance refuses to pay

Christian and Jennifer Donelan who were injured in the Maldives bomb whilst on honeymoon

Stephanie Condron and Will Pavia

The Maldives Government has stepped in to fly a honeymooning British couple seriously injured in a bomb attack to a specialist burns unit after their insurance company refused to pay the bill.

Christian and Jennifer Donelan are expected to need skin grafts after they were burnt in the explosion on Saturday afternoon in a park in the Maldives capital, Male. Ten other tourists were also injured.

The Donelans’ friends and family spent much of yesterday trying to find someone to agree to pay for their medical evacuation for expert treatment. The Times understands that the Maldives Government last night agreed to provide the funds for the couple, who are both 32, after their insurance company refused to pay out.

“It has been eight hours of absolute panic,” a family friend, Tim Bulleyment, said last night. “We did not know the insurance company would say they’re not paying for it. Now there’s a resolution. Everyone is relieved.”

The bomb, filled with masonry nails, detonated at about 2.30pm local time. The other injured tourists, from China and Japan, have now been released from hospital.

Mr Donelan suffered 27 per cent burns to his lower body and limbs and his wife suffered 40 per cent burns to her face, hands and lower body.

Mr Donelan, originally from Rotherham, works in Qatar as a sports events organiser for the Asian Games. The couple were on honeymoon, having married in Italy two weeks ago.

The private hospital that is treating Mr and Mrs Donelan in Male, ADK Enterprise, is not equipped to deal with severe burns victims. The airlift is to be conducted by a private company and it is hoped that it will take place today.

It was unclear last night whether the couple would be flown to Britain, Qatar or to a specialist burns unit closer to the Maldives.

Friends and family in Qatar spent all day negotiating with the couple’s Qatar-based insurance company, as Mr Donelan’s father, Paddy, waited for news at his home in Rotherham.

The British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka was sent to the Maldives and helped to manage negotiations.

Eventually, when it became clear that the insurance company would not pay, arguing that the couple’s insurance did not cover acts of terrorism, the Maldives Government stepped in, a Foreign and Commonwealth Office source said.

British insurance industry representatives said last night that about two thirds of British companies provided cover for terrorism-related incidents.

Malcom Taring, of the Association of British Insurers said: “It always used to be that war and terrorism were specifically excluded in insurance but in recent years with the proliferation of terrorism, cover has been incorporated into a lot of packages.

“About 60 per cent of British companies cover medical expenses and repatriation if you are injured as a result of a terrorist attack.”

Mr Bulleyment, 45, said: “Now the funds have been found to bring them home it’s just a major relief.

“It’s really nice of the Maldivians. Paddy has been calm. “At one point he just said to me, ‘Sit down son, take the weight off your feet. Stop pacing’. I think he’s just relieved that they are not dead. That’s what everybody feels.”

Ahmed Afaal, ADK’s managing director, said: “We hope that they will be going home within the next 24 hours.”

The Foreign Office said: “It’s great news.”

The Sunni Muslim country is stunned by the attack. The luxury resort relies on tourism and is not associated with violence.

The ADK hospital, which has been inundated with messages from residents in the Maldives, has set aside a room for flowers and cards for the Donelans from wellwishers.

Sultan Park, the scene of the bombing, is near a mosque and government army base and was packed with tourists. Within hours, Maldives police had arrested two local people. By last night seven people were under arrest.

But it remained unclear whether the target was tourism. The suspicion was that the bomb was the work of Islamic militants but the motive was a mystery.

Name this uninsurance company, the better that we may enjoy the clever ironies in their advertising materials in the future.

David Masu, ZÃ¼rich,

How did the insurance company decide it was "terrorism"? Do they know somwthing the Maldivies authorities don't know?

R Tresillian, Sri Lanka,

so who is the Ins company?

Shandy, Edmonton, Canada

How did the insurance company decide it was "terrorism"? Do they know something the Maldivies authorities don't know?

R Tresillian, Sri Lanka,

Who are Stephanie Condron and Will Pavia ?

Andy, Doha, Qatar

Sure, the insurance company are showing terrible regard for human suffering, but what of the British government's role in all of this? It's great the FCO have been involved, but why is it left to the government of the Maldives and friends and family to pay for the repatriation of this couple? Britain's government should be ashamed, and British people extremely concerned.

Richard, Doha, Qatar,

Why is the times protecting the identity of the insurance company.

We all know insurance companies are by their nature dishonest but this takes the cake.

Name and shame them "times", why the reticence.

paul, london,

Here we go again another insurance rip off

Richard Hards, Horsham, England

If you want to know whether your insurer covers acts of terrorism, ASK before you take out the policy. Cut-price cover equals cut-down cover. It's in the policy in black and white. Sadly, this couple decided to buy cheap cover and now someone else has to pick up the bill - as happened in Hull, Carlisle etc when uninsured households were flooded and got better treatment than people who'd paid their way. I know this is going to be an unpopular sentiment, but if people travel without proper cover, why should a third party or the Foreign Office (ie you and I) pick up the bill?

Chris Noton, Carlisle, England

What's the name if the insurance company?

Craig, Weymouth, UK

It's very regrettable that this couple have been seriously injured, however, the insurance industry should not be subject to unfair criticism. It's worth remembering that insurance policies are contracts that both the insurer and the insured agree to, before any payments are made. CICA should do more to help those injured abroad. I hope the victims of this horrible act are able to undergo the proper rehabilitation.

Alastair, Glasgow, Scotland

zThe insurance company needs to be named and shamed. Whats the cost of 2 flights for 2 Britons to receive medical attention after a terrible attack. I also agree with eric Campbell, the FO should have paid for the flight home. He describes them perfectly, they ahve no interest in helping ordinary British citizens.

Matthew Clark, Tokyo, Japan

We are travel insurance brokers. The large percentage of UK insurers do now provide medical cover for unexpected terrorism in stable countries (always refer to the Foreign Office web for countries where terrorism is a possibility). This couple no doubt, currently live in Qatar and purchased a policy from there. Do not confuse cover from other countries with the comprehensive quality cover available in the UK.

Worldwide Travel Insurance Services Ltd, Tonbridge, UK

Shame on the insurance company. In a time of emergency they should provide whatever help possible whether the specific issue is covered or not. They could always claim the cost back from the couple later if they must. If you are lying burnt in a foreign hospital you need help not faceless beurocracy.

Times please name the company.

Nigel Gibbs, London, UK

How did the insurance company decide it was "terrorism"? Do they know something the Maldivies authorities don't know?

R Tresillian, Sri Lanka,

We want the name of the insurance company so we can make sure we dont use them. Isnt that part of the purpose of news papers, to inform the public, why so shy, do they spend a lot on advertising? I see the foreign office have been as helpful as ever. Being a subject of a third world "banana republic" doesnt have a lot going for it.

mike gee, bournemouth, uk

I'm glad the Foreign Office thinks it's great news. Wouldn't have occurred that bunch of feckless public school inbreds to pay for the flights of course.

eric campbell, harrogate, uk

Yes - who is the insurance company? In todays world cover for terrorism is essential. Too many of them try to cheat holidaymakers. We had a robbery of items worth around
Â£300 while on holiday in Majorca and when we claimed the insurance company said we had to pay the first Â£25 of each item and not the first Â£25 of the total claim.

George, Glasgow, UK

Are the Times afraid to name the insurance company?

George, Glasgow, UK

For those of you that want to know the name of the insurance company:pick any one of them.

ron, toronto,

The public definitely has the right to know the name of the insurance company

Charles Davies, Calgary, Canada

Charles Davies, Calgary, Canada

The name of this Insurance company please

H Jones, Shanghai,

Insurance company refusing to pay insurance, why doesn't that surprise me. The times I have had to use my travel insurance, I personally found so many additional charges that I only managed to secure half my claim. Far too long the industry has been abusing the consumer, this case being just one of many. Where are our regulators, and why don't they represent people's interest properly?

Farrukh, Woking, UK

Travel insurance has always been a rip-off. The travel agent makes more on the insurance that it does on the holiday.

Andrew Milner, Yokohama, Japan

How can the Times write this story and not name the insurance company?

Nick Beard, Seattle, USA (ex-UK)

Which insurance company is it?

We all need to know so that we can avoid it.

Ian, Solihull,

Tell us the name of the insurance company.

Andy Bennet, Slough,

So who is the Insurance company??

Pete H, Asuncion, Paraguay