Robert Bush, the owner of Legacy Independent Funeral Directors, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for misconduct involving the mishandling of deceased individuals. The sentencing follows an investigation that uncovered disturbing practices at his funeral home, leaving families heartbroken and demanding accountability.
Families have voiced that the 20-year sentence is inadequate given the profound distress and betrayal they experienced. Ron Marsh, whose mother Joyce Moulton died in September 2023, described his shock upon learning that his mother's body had been discovered during a police raid at Legacy's premises in Hull. Marsh stated that Bush had been professional when organizing his mother's service, but the family never received her ashes and attempts to contact the funeral home went unanswered.
"I was gobsmacked. It was just not anything I ever thought happened, would happen, and certainly not happen to my mum," Marsh said, recalling the moment police informed him about the discovery of his mother's body. He further commented on the lack of legislation governing funeral directors, which he believes allows for a failure to ensure bodies are properly cremated or buried after a service.
"Because there is no legislation with regard to funeral directors, and therefore, there's no checking to see that once a funeral service has been had, if it's not at the crematorium or at the church, that body has actually been either cremated or buried," Marsh explained. The emotional toll of this betrayal is expected to linger, as he added, "So it still gets to me and I think it will for the rest of my life."
The investigation into Legacy Independent Funeral Directors began after concerns were raised about the care of the deceased at their Beckside branch in Hull. Police discovered the mishandled bodies during a raid on March 9, 2024. The case has highlighted a significant gap in the regulation of the funeral industry, prompting calls for stricter oversight to prevent such incidents from happening again. Families affected by the misconduct have publicly advocated for the regulation of funeral services, carrying signs with the message "Regulate our funeral industry" outside Hull Crown Court.
Robert Bush, with short light brown hair, wore a dark jacket over a red shirt during his court appearance. 