Funeral director who gave families wrong ashes and kept bodies for months apologises outside court
Families who were given the wrong ashes and whose deceased loved ones were hidden by the funeral director for months said they were “horrified” by his apology.
Robert Bush, 48, will be sentenced to prison for hiding the bodies of 31 people, including a stillborn baby, at his facility in Hull.
An investigation discovered 100 sets of ashes at Legacy Independent Funeral Directors, some with name tags and letters attached to the box.
Bush, who appeared in court wearing a face mask, apologized to affected families and told BBC reporters: “I’m sorry, yes.”
According to the broadcaster, he added: “I wrote to the court. There is a letter sent to the court.”
But his apology was not well received by the families of those affected, who said they were “horrified” that he did not apologize to journalists when he apologized to them.
Bush was arrested in March 2024 after someone with access to the site contacted police and raised concerns about “care of the deceased” at the business.
When officers searched the building, they found 31 bodies and half a ton of human ashes that were supposed to be cremated months ago.
Police found that many families of the deceased at Legacy had already been given ashes by Bush, revealing Bush’s widespread practice of giving the wrong ashes to grieving relatives.
Bush’s crimes had a total of 254 victims, and all the charges belonged to the period between May 2012 and March 6, 2024.
Investigators also learned that Bush engaged in fraudulent trading regarding funeral plans; where he would receive payment for the plans but would not transfer any of the money to financial institutions that would hold it if a funeral was required.
He also stole money from charities by not passing on the donations collected at funerals.
In April, Bush pleaded guilty to 30 counts of obstructing a lawful and decent burial and stealing from 12 charities, including the Salvation Army and Macmillan Cancer Support.
He had already pleaded guilty to 30 charges of fraud by false representation regarding bodies found at the site and four “fetus claims” in which he falsely presented ashes to women by telling them the ashes were “the remains of their unborn babies.”
Bush also pleaded guilty to charges of fraud involving the ashes of 57 people between 2017 and 2024, and fraud involving funeral plans between 2012 and 2024.
Sentencing at Hull Crown Court is listed for five days and more than 100 victims are expected to be heard.
Bush, who formerly owned Kirk Ella in East Yorkshire and now owns Otley in West Yorkshire, was released on conditional bail.
