12 February 2023 , 08:02
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Dominic Raab told the dad of murdered two-year-old James Bulger that killer Jon Venables doesn't deserve to be freed.
Ralph Bulger, 56, said the justice secretary's position came as a comfort as he continues his campaign to keep the 40-year-old Venables in jail.
Venables is due to go back before a parole board to try and campaign for his release after being in and out of prison ever since the brutal torture and murder of James in February 1993.
Ralph had a face-to-face meeting with Mr Raab to discuss the case.
Mr Bulger says Mr Raab's support gives a "glimmer of hope" after 30 years of campaigning.
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John Venables has been convicted on child porn charges since the infamous murder (PA)Mr Bulger told the Sun the justice secretary wants to "see our country tougher on dangerous criminals".
He added: "Most importantly, he agreed criminals such as Venables don’t deserve to ever be released from prison."
“I told him the worst thing was not being there to save my little boy — and he confided he’d have found life unbearable if he’d been in my shoes.
“He also said sorry for the devastation James’ murder had brought me and my family and for being denied justice for my child."
Mr Bulger claimed Mr Raab, as a father of two sons, understood why he'd never given up and fought so hard to ensure Venables is never released.
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: "The Deputy Prime Minister will do everything in his power to keep dangerous offenders behind bars and has set out plans to overhaul the parole process and put victims at the heart of the process."
James Bulger's brother is also seeking to ensure that Venables - who has also been convicted of possessing more than a thousand indecent images of children and a child abuse manual - must stay behind bars.
Michael Fergus - who was born eight months after his brother's death - said the killer robbed him of his childhood and has vowed never to forgive him.
Speaking exclusively to the Sunday Express, Mr Fergus said his brother's killers will never be forgiven.
He said: "I would have loved to have looked up to him, asked him questions, talked to him about exams, cars, going to bars, normal stuff. But because of those two, I never got the chance.
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"They robbed me of my childhood, in a nutshell."
Both John Venables and fellow killer Robert Thompson were sentenced to indefinite detention and remained in custody until a Parole Board decision in June 2001 recommended their release on a lifelong licence aged 18.
Venables was later imprisoned again in 2010, and then released on parole in 2013. He was jailed again in 2017 for possessing child abuse imagery.