The mother of murdered toddler James Bulger is facing renewed trauma as one of her son's killers prepares for a fresh parole hearing. Jon Venables, now 43, will have his case reviewed by the Parole Board next month, more than two years after his last appeal was rejected.
The Notorious Crime That Shocked a Nation
James Bulger was just two years old when he was abducted, tortured, and murdered in a crime that horrified the UK. On 12 February 1993, James was with his mother, Denise Fergus, at the Strand shopping centre in Bootle, Merseyside. In a moment of distraction, ten-year-olds Jon Venables and Robert Thompson led the toddler away, captured on CCTV footage that would become seared into public memory.
The boys took James on a two-and-a-half-mile walk to a railway line in Walton. There, they subjected him to a brutal and sustained attack, which included throwing paint in his eye, hitting him with bricks and an iron bar, and placing batteries in his mouth. Home Office pathologist Dr Alan Williams later documented 42 separate injuries on the child's body. James's body was discovered two days after his disappearance, close to Walton Lane police station.
A Lifetime of Supervision and Recall
Venables and Thompson were convicted of murder in November 1993 after a 17-day trial at Preston Crown Court. The judge described their actions as "unparalleled evil and barbarity." They were given a minimum tariff of eight years but were released on licence with new identities in June 2001.
While Robert Thompson has reportedly not reoffended, Jon Venables has been recalled to prison twice. He was first returned to custody in February 2010 after indecent images of children were found on his computer. Released again in 2013, he was recalled in November 2017 for the same offence. The Parole Board rejected his bid for release in 2020 and again in 2023, stating he still posed a danger to children.
Family's Anguish and the Upcoming Parole Decision
The latest development has forced James Bulger's family to relive their nightmare. A spokesperson for Denise Fergus stated she had been "forced to confront a process that reopens unimaginable trauma" and that her hope for a period of peace had been taken away.
The Parole Board is expected to hold an oral hearing for Venables next month, though no official date has been confirmed. The board's decision will hinge on whether it believes Venables can be managed safely in the community, given his history of reoffending after release. This case continues to raise profound questions about rehabilitation, public protection, and the lifelong impact of one of Britain's most infamous crimes.
