Legacy funeral firm to be dissolved over £40k unpaid debts

A funeral firm at the centre of a major police inquiry is to be dissolved over debts of more than £40,000.

District Judge Robert Thomson ordered Legacy Independent Funeral Directors to be wound up during a Hull Magistrates' Court hearing on Friday.

He heard the firm tried to repay some of the £40,938.08 owed for unpaid council fees before "a whistle blower" contacted police about the way bodies were being stored at its premises.

Legacy has been contacted for comment.

District Judge Thompson heard Legacy last made a payment of £1,500 on 29 February to Hull City Council.

The authority served Robert Bush, director of the Hull-based company, with a winding-up petition on 16 April.

It became apparent in February last year that the company owed the authority more than £51,000 but an arrangement was made by Legacy to repay the outstanding debt, the court heard.

The court was told the firm had also owed utility companies more than £5,000.

Solicitor advocate Paul Thompson, representing Hull City Council, said the business was not operating and "certainly will not ever operate again".

He said a "whistle blower" who worked for Legacy had contacted the police on 6 March because of concerns over "the way bodies were stored" at one of the company's premises on Hessle Road.

Mr Thompson said 35 bodies and ashes were subsequently found by officers. Two days later the council obtained a warrant to move the bodies, he added.

Families believed a cremation had taken place when they had not, the court heard.

"Legacy is no longer operating," Mr Thompson said.

District Judge Thomson said he was "satisfied" with the council's wind-up petition and ordered the company to be wound up in accordance with the Insolvency Act 1986.

The case was originally heard on 9 April but was adjourned after the council was unable to contact the business directors, the court was told.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the authority said: "Hull City Council notes the decision from the court, and will continue to explore options to recoup any monies owed."

A 46-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman were arrested on suspicion of prevention of a lawful and decent burial, fraud by false representation and fraud by abuse of position. They have since been released on bail while police inquiries continue.

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