Index: _source/plugins/tabletools/plugin.js
===================================================================
--- _source/plugins/tabletools/plugin.js	(revision 5949)
+++ _source/plugins/tabletools/plugin.js	(revision )
@@ -464,13 +464,16 @@
 			var targetCell;
 			try
 			{
+ 	      var rowspan = parseInt( firstCell.getAttribute( 'rowspan' ), 10 ) || 1;
+ 	      var colspan = parseInt( firstCell.getAttribute( 'colspan' ), 10 ) || 1;
+
 				targetCell =
 					map[ mergeDirection == 'up' ?
-							( startRow - 1 ):
-							mergeDirection == 'down' ? ( startRow + 1 ) : startRow  ] [
+							( startRow - rowspan ):
+							mergeDirection == 'down' ? ( startRow + rowspan ) : startRow  ] [
 						 mergeDirection == 'left' ?
-							( startColumn - 1 ):
-						 mergeDirection == 'right' ?  ( startColumn + 1 ) : startColumn ];
+							( startColumn - colspan ):
+						 mergeDirection == 'right' ?  ( startColumn + colspan ) : startColumn ];
 
 			}
 			catch( er )