20 September 2023 , 19:12
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The mother of murdered James Bulger says the prospect of killer Jon Venables being freed is “frightening” and he should stay in prison.
The 40-year-old has a parole hearing in November and if successful, he could be out by Christmas. James’s mum Denise Fergus said: “Jon Venables is still one of the biggest dangers to this country. I have no doubt he will offend again if released. Hearing the news about my son’s killer’s parole is still shocking to me.
“He should never be allowed back in our streets and the prospect that could happen is obviously frightening.” Venables and Robert Thompson were 10 in 1993 when they dragged two-year-old James from a shopping centre in Bootle, Merseyside, to rail tracks two miles away and beat him to death.
(PA)The pair were released on licence with new identities in 2001. But Venables was recalled to jail in 2010 and 2017 for having child sex abuse images. The second time he got 40 months and he was refused parole in 2020. In November, he will be quizzed by a parole panel in a private hearing, featuring witnesses such as probation officers, psychiatrists and psychologists, and officials supervising him in prison.
Denise and James’s dad, Ralph Bulger, will give written statements. Denise, 55, told the Mirror earlier this month: “He will cause another family heartbreak like ours. All we can do is wait and hope the parole board realise what we know, which is that Venables should never walk free ever again.”
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Jon Venables (PA)Venables’ case will be heard as steps to strengthen the parole system go through Parliament. The Victims and Prisoners Bill will make public protection the top priority in deciding which prisoners are safe for release. It will also give ministers greater oversight, including the power to overturn release decisions for the most serious offenders.
The Parole Board confirmed the hearing, adding: “Parole reviews are undertaken thoroughly and with extreme care. Protecting the public is our number one priority.”