Arabic version: عائلات هال ترفض رسالة اعتذار روبرت بوش

According to BBC News, jailed former funeral boss Robert Bush has sent a written apology to families affected by his actions at Legacy Independent Funeral Directors in Hull, prompting angry responses from some victims. Bush, 48, was jailed for 20 years at Hull Crown Court on Friday.

Police found 35 bodies and more than 100 sets of ashes after raiding the Hessle Road premises following a tip-off in March 2024. Bush admitted 67 offences, including 30 counts of preventing a lawful and decent burial and theft from 12 charities. Prosecutors said he ran a “shambolic and chaotic” operation that caused “extreme emotional pain, anguish and upset”.

In his letter, Bush said he was “deeply sorry” for the “distress, upset and uncertainty” caused. He said he accepted responsibility for his failures, did not expect forgiveness and was not writing to reduce the seriousness of what happened. He also said he respected that some people might never accept his apology.

Jasmine Beverley said the letter left her feeling “nothing but anger”. Her son, Sunny Beverley-Conlin, was stillborn on 13 May 2022, and his remains were recovered from the funeral parlour one year and 10 months later. The court heard he had been found in a brown paper bag on the floor. Beverley said the letter appeared to apologise for families’ reactions rather than Bush’s actions.

Tristan Essex, whose grandmother Jessie Stockdale was among the bodies found at Legacy, said he was “absolutely disgusted” and described the message as “hardly an apology”. Natalie Smith, whose grandfather Norman Bridger was found after being at the site for 11 months, called it a “tick box exercise” with “no real substance, no emotion, nothing”.