Jon Venables, one of the killers of two-year-old James Bulger, is set to make a new attempt to secure his freedom through a parole hearing next month.
A History of Violence and Recall
Venables, now 43, was originally jailed alongside Robert Thompson for the abduction, torture and murder of James Bulger in 1993. The pair, who were both ten years old at the time, snatched the toddler from the Strand Shopping Centre in Bootle, Merseyside.
He was first released on licence in July 2001 but was recalled to prison in February 2010 after indecent images of children were discovered on his computer. Following a subsequent release in August 2013, Venables was recalled again in November 2017 for the same type of offence.
Previous Parole Rejection and Ongoing Risk
His last parole bid was rejected in 2023. The Parole Board concluded at that time that he still posed a danger to children and was likely to reoffend. This upcoming oral hearing will be his first since that rejection, taking place more than two years later.
The Daily Mirror reported that James Bulger's family was informed of the pending hearing on Tuesday. While the Parole Board has not confirmed a specific date, the hearing is anticipated to occur in the coming weeks.
Family Trauma and Systemic Reforms
Speaking on behalf of James's mother, Denise Fergus, spokeswoman Kym Morris said the news had forced her client to "confront a process that reopens unimaginable trauma." Ms Fergus had hoped for a longer period before another review, a hope that has now been taken away.
In a development under recent reforms, Ms Fergus's application to observe the private hearing has been granted. Since April, victims have been permitted to attend such hearings as part of national efforts to increase transparency and confidence in the justice system.
The case continues to provoke profound questions about rehabilitation, risk, and justice for the victims of some of the nation's most shocking crimes.
