- Robert Bush failed to bury or cremate people entrusted to his funeral parlour.
- At Hull Crown Court, it was heard that Bush had caused extreme emotional pain, anguish and upset; Judge Justice Hilliard told him he had caused anguish and pain on a scale beyond comprehension.
- Judge Justice Hilliard sentenced Bush to 20 years in prison.
- Families said no sentence could ever be enough and called for a public inquiry and legislative changes.
- Families organized monthly vigils when the investigation began.
- Jasmine Beverley told Hull Crown Court that her baby Sunny-Beverley Conlin was discovered in a brown paper bag on the floor of the funeral parlour; she told Bush: “I trusted you with the most precious person in my life.”
- Michaela Baldwin said the sentence was “still not enough” and amounted to less than one year for each person; Joanne Moody said she felt “really really let down”.
- Nigel Hotham joined families in calling for changes to legislation and a public inquiry; the Department for Health and Social Care said it would “drive forward” work to “crack down on rogue operators” and develop proposals including regulation of the funeral sector.
Robert Bush, the owner of Legacy Independent Funeral Directors in Hull, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for failing to provide lawful burials for 35 bodies and over 100 sets of ashes. The court heard that his actions caused extreme emotional pain to the families involved.4
During the sentencing at Hull Crown Court, Judge Justice Hilliard stated that Bush had caused anguish and pain on a scale beyond comprehension. Bush had previously admitted to 67 offences, including 30 counts of preventing a lawful and decent burial and theft from 12 charities.23
Families expressed their disappointment with the sentence, with many feeling that no punishment could ever be enough. Karen Dry, who organized vigils for the victims, stated, “No sentence was ever going to be enough.” Jasmine Beverley, who lost her baby, described the traumatic discovery of her child’s remains, saying it “will stay with me for the rest of my life.”78
Following the sentencing, families called for legislative changes in the funeral industry. Hotham, a family member, urged for a public inquiry and reforms to prevent such incidents in the future. The government has pledged to “drive forward” efforts to regulate the funeral sector and improve standards.5121314
“At Hull Crown Court, Judge Justice Hilliard told Bush he caused 'anguish and pain on a scale beyond comprehension.' Families hoped for more than 30 years and were disturbed by the possibility of release after half, while the Department for Health and Social Care pledged to crack down on rogue funeral operators.”
