Gary Dean said he was devastated to learn the ashes give to him were not those of his mother
By Kevin Shoesmith
BBC News
A grieving son has been told his mother’s ashes were found in a “brown paper bag” by police investigating a Hull funeral directors.
Gary Dean’s family used Legacy Independent Funeral Directors for his mother Joan’s funeral in December 2022.
They were later given urns containing what they thought were her ashes.
In March, 35 bodies and a quantity of ashes were removed from the firm by police following “concern for care of the deceased”.
Image source, Gary Dean
Joan Dean was an “amazing” mother, according to her family
Mr Dean, 62, from Hull, who has a brother and two sisters, said: “It’s a horror show – devastating for us as a family.
“We thought we each had an urn containing our mum’s ashes.”
Described by her children as an “amazing mum”, Mrs Dean died from lung cancer on 19 November 2022, aged 82.
Her funeral, arranged through Legacy Independent Funeral Directors, was held at Haltemprice Crematorium in Willerby, East Yorkshire.
Mr Dean said the family bought four urns – one for each of Mrs Dean’s children – online before passing them to Legacy to fill with the ashes.
Image source, PA Media
Police received a report of “concern for the care of the deceased” at Legacy Independent Funeral Directors on 6 March
On 30 June last year, the family collected the urns from the firm’s branch in Hessle Road, Hull.
“I had our mum’s urn on the floor next to the sofa,” said Mr Dean. “We didn’t received a cremation certificate, but at the time we didn’t think anything of it.”
After concerns were first raised over the funeral firm, Mr Dean contacted a helpline set up by Humberside Police.
On Sunday, the family were given the news they dreaded.
Mr Dean said: “Police rang me to say, ‘We have your mum’s ashes, still in a sealed brown paper bag.’ It had our mum’s name on it.”
On Monday, he received another call from the police, who advised him what his family needed to do with the ashes they were originally given.
“I was told to contact the crematorium, which I did, [but] a manager said they could not accept the ashes because nobody knows who they belong to,” Mr Dean said.
He said he was told by police he and his siblings must wait to receive their mother’s ashes due to the investigation.
In a statement, Humberside Police said: “Given the complexities and scale of the investigation and the number of people affected, we are not in a position to comment on individual circumstances.
“However, we are continuing to explore numerous lines of inquiry, and where people have been identified as victims we will be supporting them.”
The BBC has also approached East Riding of Yorkshire Council and Legacy Independent Funeral Directors for comment.
A 46-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman, who were arrested on suspicion of prevention of a lawful and decent burial, fraud by false representation and fraud by abuse of position, remain on police bail.
Victim Support has set up a helpline for anyone affected by the investigation. Call 0808 281 1136.
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