Mother of Murdered Toddler James Bulger 'Absolutely Disgusted' as Grave Vandalised Again
Denise Fergus, the mother of murdered toddler James Bulger, has expressed being 'absolutely disgusted' and heartbroken after her son's grave was desecrated for the second time in just six weeks. The grieving mother revealed that the gravestone at Kirkdale Cemetery in Liverpool had been vandalised yet again, with the heads of two cherubs adorning the resting place being stolen.
Second Vandalism Attack in Weeks
This latest incident follows a similar attack in February, where heartless vandals 'scythed off' the cherub heads, leaving Ms Fergus devastated. At that time, more than £20,000 was raised through a GoFundMe campaign by what she described as 'an army of heroes' to restore the grave to its original condition. The cherubs had only recently been carefully repaired before being targeted again.
Ms Fergus told The Mirror: 'I am absolutely disgusted that James' grave has been demolished and devastated again.' She questioned the motives behind such cruelty, asking: 'How evil do you need to be to vandalise and destroy a child's grave?' Her heart sank upon discovering the desecration this morning.
Police Hunt for Vandals
Merseyside Police have renewed their hunt for the perpetrators and the missing cherub heads. The force confirmed that two large marble angels were damaged in the February incident, which occurred between late morning and mid-afternoon on February 26. A smaller angel was found in a bin, and a teddy was also stolen.
Katie McCreath, Director of KMC Legal & Finance and part of Denise's legal team, described the act as 'both distressing and unacceptable'. She stated: 'Denise is understandably devastated. For any parent, a gravesite is a place of reflection, peace, and remembrance.' She emphasised that this vandalism represents a 'deeply personal and emotional violation'.
Background of the James Bulger Case
James Bulger was a two-year-old boy who was lured away from his mother at the New Strand Shopping Centre in Bootle, Merseyside, in February 1993. He was abducted by John Venables and Robert Thompson, who then tortured and killed him. His mutilated body was discovered two days later on a railway line in Walton, Liverpool.
Thompson and Venables were convicted of abduction and murder in November 1993, becoming the youngest convicted murderers in modern British history. They were sentenced to indefinite detention and released on life licence in 2001 at age 18, with new identities. Venables has since been jailed multiple times for possessing child pornography images.
Community Support and Memorial Trust
Following the February vandalism, the GoFundMe page raised over £23,000, exceeding its £13,000 target. This allowed Ms Fergus to temporarily fix the grave and plan for a more secure replacement. She thanked supporters, noting that the funds enabled her to visit the grave on March 16, James's birthday, and 'leave another real legacy for James'.
Denise and her husband Stuart founded the James Bulger Memorial Trust to help other families facing difficult times. One of their projects includes a holiday lodge near Blackpool for struggling families. Extra donations from the grave restoration fund will support the maintenance of this lodge.
Appeal for Information
Ms Fergus has urged anyone with information about the vandalism to come forward. She shared on social media: 'If anyone has any information please send it via the charity page James Bulger Memorial Trust or contact Merseyside Police.' She expressed her devastation, stating: 'I'm devastated someone could be so cruel and hurtful to My James.'
The family continues to seek justice and peace, decades after their tragic loss, as they cope with this renewed violation of their son's memory.
