Families of deceased loved ones failed by Legacy funeral director Robert Bush have called for a Public Inquiry into the scandal. Bush, 48, previously denied 31 charges, including preventing the lawful and decent burials of deceased people and one offence of theft from charities, and he admitted 36 fraud-related offences.
But today, he changed the not guilty pleas to guilty in a high-profile hearing. As he walked away from Hull Crown Court, family members shouted “Pig” and “Monster” at the defendant as he left in a taxi.
Following the hearing, relatives said a Public Inquiry and changes to legislation were needed. A number had attended The House of Commons to support Hull MP Emma Hardy in the campaign for tougher restrictions on who can set up as a funeral director.
A member of the group Hull 35, representing the families, Michaela Baldwin said: “We need legislation. We have met with Emma Hardy MP at Parliament and she is getting the ball rolling.
“It is easier to set up as a funeral director than it is to open a sandwich shop. It needs to change. They (the deceased) can’t stand up, so we are standing up for them.”
Her stepfather, Danny Middleton was one of the 35 bodies discovered by police at Legacy’s Hessle Road funeral home in Hull in 2024, along with several casks with ashes.
READ MORE: Faces of loved ones at centre of Hull’s Legacy funeral homes heartbreakREAD MORE: Footage shows moment alarmed-looking Robert Bush is arrested on American Airlines flight
Hull 35’s Karen Dry, who organised a vigil following the horrific discovery at the funeral home, said she had entrusted the firm with her father Allan Griffin, 10 years ago and her mother Betty Griffin, seven years ago.
“I feel I was taken for a mug. We don’t know if it was their ashes that we received back,” she said. Outside the crown court she said the pleas brought the families “one step close to justice.”
“Sadly it leaves so many unanswered questions,” she added. Karen said: “It has been a long hard road. When this ordeal began, we were blindsided with no idea of the level of repulsive and sickening findings inside that building.”
She told how some families underwent the trauma of DNA profiling to establish if the remains of their loved ones were the correct ones. Some went through second funerals, once that was verified.
Campaigners called for legislation to ensure no funeral director was able to do the same to other families. Karen said it was imperative no families had to endure having a loved-one lying decomposing when there had been arranged cremations.
The Hull 35 campaigner said: “It is essential to establish accountability and implement safeguards to prevent any future recurrence.” Karen said the families would continue to support one another through the trauma.
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