James Bulger's mum's desperate request as killer makes bid for freedom
Tragic James Bulger’s mum has desperately urged parole bosses to block evil killer Jon Venables’ new bid for freedom.
Vile Venables, who brutally murdered toddler James in 1993, faces a crucial hearing “within weeks”, which would see him back on the streets if parole is granted. But Denise Fergus has insisted her son’s murderer, 40, who has reoffended TWICE, “will cause another family heartbreak like ours. He’s still that dangerous.”
In an exclusive interview with the Daily Mirror, Denise, 55, said: “We are worried obviously about James’ killer's parole hearing. We know that the fate of James’ killer now lies in the hands of the parole board. There is so much at stake. In my mind he should never be released. He still poses a huge danger to society and others and I, sadly, have no doubt he will reoffend again if his parole is granted.
“We know we are so close to getting justice for James and keeping his killer, who has repeatedly reoffended, in prison for life. I had written a victim impact statement and all we can do is wait and hope that the parole board realise what we know, which is that Venables should never walk free ever again.”
Jon Venables after his arrest (PA)James was murdered by Venables and Robert Thompson - both aged 10 - in February 1993. They grabbed the boy from a shopping centre in Bootle, Merseyside, after his mum let go of his hand for a second. The killers dragged him two miles to a railway line where they tortured and battered him to death. They were convicted of murder in November 1993 and served eight years in a youth offenders institute – something Denise has always insisted was not long enough.
Dominic Raab told me killer doesn't deserve to be freed, says James Bulger's dad
They were released aged 18 in 2001 with new identities. Thompson, also 40, has not reoffended. But Venables was sent back to jail in 2010 and 2017 after being caught with child sex abuse images on his computer. He was turned down for parole in 2020 having served his minimum 40 months sentence but it was revealed this weekend that he has made a new bid for freedom – with a hearing expected “within weeks”.
Denise said: “We have done all we can. I had written a victim impact statement for the parole hearing. I hope it is enough to keep him behind bars.” Justice Secretary Alex Chalk – who is fighting to change laws so that serious repeat offenders like Venables are never released – and former justice chief Dominic Raab are both believed to be writing or have written similar statements outlining Venables’ continued threat to society should he be freed.
Denise said: “James is still my son. He doesn’t have birthdays with us, he doesn’t have Christmases, he didn’t get a chance to have his first day at school, his first day of work. That gap in our life will always remain. That is why I’ve continued this fight and won’t rest until I know my son’s killer will never be freed.”
James Bulger: The Trial airs on Channel 5 on September 6 at 9am.
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