THE grieving family of a young musician who tragically died last year have set up a petition to call for a change in the law after a mourner took a photograph with Michael-Dene Ray’s body at his funeral home and posted it on Facebook.

The parents and sister of Michael-Dene Ray, from Chadwell St Mary, have spoken of their outrage after a friend went to the funeral parlour where his body lay and removed the sheet covering it.

The mourner, Gemma Wilson, 22, of Orsett, placed a friendship bracelet on his wrist and took a photograph, which she then went on to post on Facebook.

She said her actions were not malicious and it was “an act of love”.

Sister Charley-Anne Semprey, 25, of Ruskin Road, campaigned successfully with Facebook to have the photo taken down, but the family expressed horror when the photo then cropped up again, on a T-shirt made by Ms Wilson at a memorial party for Michael’s birthday on June 4.

The young and much-loved musician, known affectionately to friends as Michael Dairydub Ray, died age 21 at his home in Ruskin Road in Chadwell St Mary last December, leaving behind a heartbroken family of two sisters, a brother and his parents.

The former William Edwards school student was also known as DairyDub, his artist name, with which he made and sold reggae electronica dub records all over the world.

Tributes poured in for him from the community and around the world after his death.

The coroner later ruled his death at inquest was the result of suicide.

Cazz Nixon, 26, of Buckles Lane, South Ockendon, a close friend of Michael’s, set up a petition on Change.org to demand tighter controls on who is allowed to take photographs in funeral parlours.

The petition, which is calling for it to be made illegal to take photos inside funeral homes without permission, reached over 1,300 signatures in a week and has even picked up a global following, with signatures from as far afield as Canada and Australia.

She said: “Michael was my rock, and he would have done anything he could to make sure I was smiling, so when I saw his whole entire family destroyed over something so disgusting, I took it on myself to do something.

“My intention with the petition wasn’t to name and shame anybody. I originally wanted the family to feel support and know they aren’t alone.

“I could never have dreamed so many people would get behind us and support us - it’s absolutely amazing!”

Cousin Rachel Freeman, 28, of Leicester Road, Tilbury, said finding out was a “big shock” and a real “kick in the teeth” for the family.

She said: “I was shocked and felt sick when the photo was put on Facebook. After a while I thought maybe it was nice - but not to be made public.

“I think her putting it on her T-shirt after she had been told no from my mum, Michael’s aunt, and our nan was a big kick in the face.”

Speaking of the petition and the difference she hopes it will make, she said: “I really hope it will stop any other families going though the distress and upset that pictures like these can cause.”

After being overwhelmed with national attention, the family said: “As a family, we think it’s disgusting what happened. It shouldn’t have happened in the first place.”

They added: “It’s not even been up a week, and the petition has picked up 1,000 signatures.

“The person involved is not on trial, but the family are very distressed by what happened. We are not saying all photos should be banned, just that next-of-kin permission should be granted.

“We just want to make a difference and protect other families from going through the same ordeal. And obviously we are not going to stop until we get somewhere with it.”

Gemma Williams, 22, from Orsett, said: “I’ve been friends with Michael for 17 years and I thought it was a lovely gesture to get bracelets for both of us to keep forever.

“I didn’t see it as being malicious, I saw it as an act of love. I felt as close to him as family so I didn’t see the need to ask for family permission.

“I also hope the petition gets made law so someone never has to go through the upset that I’ve gone through for loving a friend.

“I have no hard feelings towards Michael’s family I just wish everything hadn’t gotten this far and I hope that they get all the signatures they need so that another grieving best friend doesn’t ever have to endure all the abuse I’ve received because it’s not fair.”

To sign the petition, visit www.change.org and search for ‘Make it illegal to take photos inside funeral homes without family permission.’