I do not know if my dad was in coffin I kissed

Woman fears for remains of her father and brother

- LUCY THORNTON

WHEN Billie Jo Suffill's father and brother died within days of each other, the compassion she was shown by the undertaker made her consider him a hero.

Now, after being contacted by police investigating the Legacy Independent Funeral Directors, the mum of three fears for what happened to the remains of her dad Andy and brother Dwane.

And she is haunted by the thought that her tearful farewell to her father was actually made to an empty coffin.

Billie Jo, 33, said: "I bet my dad was not even in the coffin it was an empty coffin. I was kissing an empty coffin. When I think about it, it is disgusting.

"I never actually got to see my dad's body. I wanted to see him dressed in his new clothes, but I never got to.

"I got ashes after my brother's funeral. But now I don't even know if they are his ashes and I never got any from my dad." Andy, 52, took his own life in July 2022, and five days later, Dwane, 33, who had found his dad's body, also killed himself.

Billie Jo said Legacy offered to handle both funerals for about LEG £2,000 each and the family were told the firm was "not in a rush" for the money.

Billie Jo said she felt the undertaker was her "hero" at the time,  taking the bodies and giving her time to raise the money. But now she is in shock, feeling "physically sick" about the Legacy scandal.