06 September 2023 , 06:00
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For 30 years, Denise Fergus was shielded from some of the worst details of how her son James Bulger was murdered in 1993.
But today she reveals that, being involved in a documentary on the murder trial, she learned of a metal railway component being used to kill James, who was just two. Denise only attended one day of the real trial, as she was pregnant and feared for the effect the stress would have.
But she said watching Channel 5’s 90-minute recreation of 10-year-old Jon Venables and Robert Thompson’s trial helped answer some questions. In an exclusive interview with the Daily Mirror, Denise said: “Watching it was obviously extremely hard but because I was not physically there for a lot of it, it filled some gaps.”
Of her husband, Denise, 55, said: “When I first met Stuart, anything that was in the papers regarding James he would get a felt tip pen and wipe out... so a lot of detail I have been sheltered from. But I’m stepping forward now and ready to hear the detail. These wounds do need to open before they heal.”
Two child actors portray Thompson and Venables in court (Channel 5)She said of the railway component used in James’s murder, a length of metal used to join sections of track: “I wasn’t aware of the fishplate. I was aware of the brick. That was a hard watch.” The documentary comes as Venables is reportedly being offered a parole hearing so may be freed. Thompson has not reoffended but Venables was sent back to jail in 2010 and 2017 after being caught with child sex abuse images.
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Denise added of the methods of the killing in the documentary, to be aired tomorrow: “It was not pleasant to hear for the first time but I feel people need to hear this detail. It is an important time to remind ourselves of the abhorrent things they did to James and hopefully sends the message that Venables should never be released.”
Denise, who took part in the documentary, said it has reignited her calls for an inquiry into her son’s death and its aftermath. She said: “How did James’ killers get just eight years in a youth offenders institute? Fifteen or 20 years would have been justice for James. Why were they allowed to not take the stand?
Denise Fergus says Venables is still dangerous (Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror)
James Bulger was murdered in 1993 (PA)“Why was evidence not included in the trial like the fact they had tried to take another girl just before abducting James? If the full evidence had been heard, we probably wouldn’t be here 30 years on, with one of them repeatedly re-offending.” In the show, child actors portray Venables and Thompson.
Their real defence lawyers Dominic Lloyd and Laurence Lee give commentary on the 1993 trial at Preston Crown Court. Denise said of them: “Their solicitors came out in the documentary and said that there was a lot of things that weren’t mentioned in the court about what Venables and Thompson did.” Denise, who says she saw the killers sniggering on the day of their sentencing, added: “I do wonder whether that sentence would have been more severe if that evidence had come to light.”
* James Bulger: The Trial of the Century is to be broadcast on Channel 5 at 9pm tomorrow.