“He was trusted by people at a time they needed him most”
A tribute to the victims of Legacy Independent Funeral Directors 2
As the news breaks that Robert Bush has pleaded guilty to all charges relating to the Legacy Independent Funeral Directors scandal and faces a lengthy jail term, we have put together a recap of the past 25 months.
Relatives of the deceased have endured a bitterly-long two-year wait for answers. As matters begin to draw to a close, the faces of the loved ones at the centre of the Legacy heartbreak can finally be released.
Bush will next appear at Hull Crown Court for his sentencing hearing in July. Here is a summary of the tragedy, from the fateful discovery in Hessle Road, to the complicated Humberside Police investigation which resulted in an extraordinary 67 criminal charges.
Wednesday, March 6, 2024:
- Humberside Police receives a report about Legacy Independent Funeral Directors. Cordons are put in place at all three branches of the firm on Hessle Road, Anlaby Road, and in Beverley.
Thursday, March 7, 2024:
- There is a huge police presence at Legacy’s Hessle Road branch, drawing national media attention, but at the time it is not clear what has happened.
- Over the next few days, 35 bodies are transported from the site to the mortuary, where formal identification begins.
- It is found that, of the 35 deceased, only four should have been at the premises, with others having been there much longer than necessary.
- Forensic teams also recover large quantities of what is believed to be human ashes, some with name labels and letters attached to the box.
- Police discover families of those with name labels or letters providing some form of identification have already received ashes – raising doubts about the ashes’ true identity.
- It is decided that a team of forensic scientists will try to work out if it is possible to extract DNA from the human ashes in order to identify them.
Friday, March 8, 2024
- Humberside Police release a statement saying the force’s presence at Legacy in Hessle Road relates to “concern for care of the deceased”.
- A support line is provided to allow anyone affected, or with concerns, to speak with police. More than 1,500 calls are received in the first week alone.
Saturday, March 9, 2024:
- Humberside Police release a statement asking that people “remain respectful and refrain from speculation”, noting the situation is emotionally distressing for the families involved.
Sunday, March 10, 2024:
- Robert Bush is arrested at Heathrow Airport, with police boarding the American Airlines flight he was on. In police bodyworn footage, Bush looks shocked as he is asked to accompany officers off the plane.
- In a statement, Assistant Chief Constable Thom McLoughlin says a 46-year-old man has “been arrested on suspicion of prevention of a lawful and decent burial, fraud by false representation and fraud by abuse of position”.
Thursday, April 4, 2024:
- Humberside Police release a statement saying it is not possible to identify the ashes recovered from the branch of Legacy in Hessle Road.
- Given the high temperature required to carry out a cremation, the DNA is too broken down for identification.
Monday, January 20, 2025:
- A huge file of evidence, with more than 13,000 exhibits, is submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
Wednesday, April 2, 2025:
- Robert Bush is charged with more than 60 offences, including 30 counts of preventing a lawful and decent burial. He is named in media for the first time.
Wednesday, October 15, 2025:
- Robert Bush appears in court and submits mixed pleas to the 67 offences he is charged with, admitting 36 fraud-related offences, but denying the others.
- He denies 30 charges of preventing the lawful and decent burial of a dead body.
- He denies one charge of theft involving a series of charities.
Thursday, April 2, 2026:
- Robert Bush appears at Hull Crown Court and pleads guilty to the remaining 31 charges. This means an eight-week jury trial set for October 2026 no longer has to go ahead.
- He is granted bail, with conditions of residence at his address and reporting to police.
- Bush will next appear in court for his sentencing hearing in July.
Post-hearing reaction
- Laura Tams, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service, says families of the deceased were “subjected to appalling violations of trust” by Bush.
- She adds it has been an “extraordinarily complex and challenging case for our specialist prosecution team” and Bush’s decision to enter guilty pleas today “acknowledges the strength of the prosecution’s case”.
- Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Superintendent Alan Curtis says the damage caused to families by Bush is “quite possibly irreparable”.
- He adds: “Losing a family member or friend you love, and care deeply about can be one of the most traumatic experiences anyone can go through, and Robert Bush took advantage of this. He was trusted by people at a time they needed him most.”
- Assistant Chief Constable Andy Walker says: “The selfish and deplorable actions of Robert Bush have deeply affected so many people, and we have always been determined to make sure that we kept those affected involved and at the heart of everything we have done, every step of the way. I want to take this opportunity to offer my heartfelt thanks to everybody involved, families for their patience and understanding as we progressed the case, officers and staff for their commitment to ensure Robert Bush was held to account and our partner organisations, who have been crucial in providing support and care to those in need.”
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