20 November 2023 , 11:25
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James Bulger’s father has blasted a parole board for being “twisted” and “protecting” killer Jon Venables by allowing him not to attend a hearing.
Venables, 41, missed his parole hearing on the grounds of protecting his mental health and so did not listen to the victim impact statements read out that included from James’ dad Ralph Bulger. It was said so as to avoid “disproportionate emotional stress”.
James was just two years old when he was abducted from a shopping centre in Bootle, Liverpool, on 12 February 1993. His body was found on a railway line two days later. His killers were Robert Thompson and Venables, both aged 10 at the time. The pair were both given lifelong anonymity.
Mr Bulger said that it was also part of his “healing” that he could tell Venables the impact that his actions had on his family and that they are the ones “hurting for the rest of our lives”.
James Bulger was killed in 1993 (PA)
Venables was allowed to not attend a parole board hearing (PA)He told The Sun: “How can these people even consider releasing Venables from jail if he isn't made to face up to the reality of the vile crimes he has committed? How can they not insist he hears what I have to say? It's part of my healing that I get to tell him the way it has affected me and my family. It's just so twisted that we are the ones hurting for the rest of our lives, but he is the one who continues to be protected.”
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Venables is serving time for having indecent images of children and has twice been returned to jail for breaching conditions. He was turned down for parole in September 2020 but has since made a new bid for freedom and is due to face a parole panel next month.
Denise had hoped that would be in public, but his lawyers successfully argued for a private hearing, which was confirmed last Wednesday. A spokeswoman for the 55-year-old said: "Although we are not surprised, Denise is obviously disappointed by this decision, especially considering the fact that Venables has gone on to commit further offences since his first release.
"It is crucial to recognise that his previous actions have demonstrated he is not rehabilitated and therefore as Denise has always said, he poses a great risk to the public and has a clear disregard for the safety of others. All we can do now is pray that the parole board refuses his release and Denise can finally get justice for James."
Venables was recalled to prison in February 2010 over the indecent child images. He was released in August 2013 and called back in November 2017 for the same offence. His legal team believe the emotional stress of a public parole hearing "would be disproportionate" and "create a risk" for him.
The lawyers also said it "might impact on his ability to participate and could impact on his long term health". Parole Board for England and Wales chair Caroline Corby revealed the panel must respect a long-standing legal order that bans the identification of Venables.