Robert Bush: Campaigner calls for public inquiry into rogue funeral director

A campaigner who entrusted the funerals of her parents to rogue undertaker Robert Bush has called for a public inquiry into what went wrong.

Speaking after the funeral director was jailed for 20 years, Karen Dry said no matter how long the sentence was “it will never be enough”.

She has previously said she was unsure if the ashes she received were those of her parents Allan and Betty Griffin when they died separately some years ago.

She has organised vigils and spoken up for the families of Bush’s victims as part of the Hull 35 group.

Ms Dry said: “As the sentencing week concludes, we have heard many moving victim personal statements from the families affected.

“These testimonies serve as a stark reminder of the heinous and egregious acts committed by a funeral director who acted with complete impunity for way too long.

“Mr Bush did not make a ‘mistake’, his acts were deliberate, his own barrister said the ‘breach of trust is obvious and gross, and tainted the memory of every person’.

“It underscores a funeral industry that is currently in desperate need of strict legislation.

“We all deserve dignity in death and this was totally denied to our loved ones.”

She called on local MPs to demand a public inquiry into Bush’s operation, questioning how the funeral director had amassed £50,000 of debt with Hull City Council.

Ms Dry also queried how cremations had not happened locally but Bush had used facilities in other cities, without the knowledge of grieving relatives.

She also asked for clarity on why registrars had not sought the correct paperwork, known as a Part C form, from Bush.

She has organised a petition calling for stricter regulation of the funeral industry, saying: “The current reliance on weak codes of conduct completely fails to protect vulnerable families during their time of deepest grief and vulnerability.

“Current arranged inspections also need to change to unannounced inspections.

“The petition urges the public to demand that the Government step in and hold funeral directors to the highest possible legal standards as soon as possible.

“Now it is time to grieve, reflect and repair.

“Together, we have leaned on one another through this painful journey and that support continues.”