Denise Fergus, the mother of murdered toddler James Bulger, is confronting a new wave of trauma after being informed that her son's killer, Jon Venables, has been granted a parole hearing. The Parole Board's decision means she will attend the hearing and hear Venables' voice for the first time in more than three decades.
A Prolonged Period of Distress and Uncertainty
The Parole Board shared its decision with James Bulger's family on 13 January 2026. For Denise Fergus, it has ushered in a period of profound distress, reopening what her spokeswoman described as "unimaginable trauma." She had hoped the Multi-Agency Case (MAC) management would redirect the case without a hearing, offering her a measure of peace.
That hope has now been taken away. Kym Morris, speaking exclusively on behalf of Denise Fergus, stated: "Once again, Denise Fergus has been forced to confront a process that reopens unimaginable trauma." While her application to observe the hearing has been granted, it does not lessen the emotional burden or provide the closure she seeks.
Ms Morris added: "Denise now faces yet another prolonged period of uncertainty and distress, with limited clarity around how decisions are being reached or how ongoing risks are being assessed."
Unprecedented Access to the Hearing
In a significant development, Denise Fergus has been granted unprecedented access to observe the crucial parole hearing. She will be able to see the entire proceedings, with the exception of Venables' face, which will be obscured to protect his identity. However, she will hear him speak—something she has not heard since the murder trial in 1993, when Venables was a child.
The hearing is expected to take place within the next month. It follows a review of written submissions from prison workers, counsellors, psychiatrists, and impact statements from James Bulger's family. Denise's own victim impact statement is expected to be read aloud to the parole panel.
A History of Violence and Reoffending
Jon Venables, now 43, was just 10 years old when he and Robert Thompson, also 10, abducted, tortured, and murdered two-year-old James Bulger in Bootle, Merseyside, in 1993. The crime shocked the nation. Both were convicted of murder and sentenced to life but were released on licence in 2001 after less than eight years in a young offenders' institution.
While Thompson is not believed to have reoffended, Venables has been recalled to prison twice for offences related to child abuse imagery. In 2010 and again in 2017, he was found in possession of indecent images of children. In February 2018, he was jailed for 40 months after admitting to possessing a "paedophile manual" and videos of male toddlers being abused.
Sentencing him at the Old Bailey, Mr Justice Edis said the manual suggested Venables was "at least contemplating the possibility of moving on to actual sexual crime against children."
Venables failed to appear at his last parole appeal in December 2023, a two-day hearing held in private after he argued that seeing James' family would harm his mental health. After a two-week deliberation, the panel ruled he was "still a danger to children" and "could not be trusted," citing concerns over "continuing issues of sexual preoccupation."
The upcoming hearing represents a fresh ordeal for Denise Fergus, who has campaigned tirelessly to keep her son's killer behind bars, and a critical test for the Parole Board's assessment of public safety.
