JAMES BULGER’S MOTHER SPEAKS OF ‘OVERWHELMING RELIEF’ AS SON’S 𝘬iᩚller JON VENABLES IS DENIED RELEASE AGAIN — BUT HER 33-YEAR FIGHT IS FAR FROM OVER
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND — More than 33 years after her two-year-old son was brutally m𝑢rdєred, Denise Fergus has finally received news she had desperately hoped for.
Jon Venables, one of the two men convicted of 𝘬iᩚlling little James Bulger in 1993, will remain behind bars after a Parole Board panel ruled that he was not suitable for release.
Following the November 9 decision, Denise’s spokesperson described her reaction as one of “overwhelming relief.”
But while the ruling has brought her a moment of reassurance, it has also reopened painful questions about a parole system that requires grieving families to repeatedly confront the possibility of their loved one’s 𝘬iᩚller being released.
Venables, now 44, underwent his latest parole review in a private hearing. Although he told the panel he was not seeking release and accepted that he needed further rehabilitation work in prison, the panel independently assessed his suitability for release and concluded that significant concerns remained.
WHY THE PAROLE BOARD REFUSED TO RELEASE HIM
The Parole Board considered evidence from prison and community probation officers, three psychologists and a psychiatrist.
The panel also reviewed a victim personal statement describing the devastating impact of James’s murder and Venables’ subsequent offending.
According to the published decision summary, Venables admitted having a long-term 𝘴єxual interest in children and acknowledged the need to undertake further work while in custody.
Although professionals considered his expressions of remorse genuine and sincere, the panel remained concerned about his continuing 𝘴єxual preoccupation.
Members identified potential risks that he could return to viewing indecent images of children or progress to offences involving direct contact with children.
The panel also raised concerns about whether he would be sufficiently open and honest with probation officers if released.
Ultimately, members concluded that they were not satisfied he was suitable for release.
He will therefore remain in prison, with another review expected in approximately two years.
DENISE FERGUS: ‘OVERWHELMING RELIEF’
For James’s mother, the decision represented an enormous emotional moment.
Her spokesperson, Kym Morris, said Denise had been anxiously awaiting the outcome and welcomed the decision that Venables must remain behind bars.
The possibility of his release had caused her considerable distress, particularly given his repeated offending involving indecent images of children.
The family also emphasized that their concerns were not limited to their own experience but extended to the safety of other children.
However, the relief is accompanied by frustration.
The family believes the repeated parole process forces them to revisit the most devastating experience of their lives every few years.
They are now calling for changes that would provide greater protection and support for bereaved families.
WHY DENISE WANTED THE HEARING TO BE PUBLIC
One of the most painful aspects of the latest proceedings was the decision to hold the parole hearing behind closed doors.
Denise and her husband, Stuart Fergus, had applied for the hearing to be made public.
They believed transparency would help the family understand the decision-making process and allow them to feel that their voices were finally being heard.
They also wanted the public to have a clearer understanding of how decisions involving dangerous offenders are reached.
However, the Parole Board rejected the application.
Its reasoning included concerns that a public hearing could make it difficult for Venables to give evidence safely, because people seeking information about his identity might use it to harm him.
Denise was deeply disappointed by the decision.
Her family had hoped that, after decades of living with the consequences of James’s murder, they would finally be given a greater opportunity to participate in the process.
THE HORRIFIC MURDER THAT SHOCKED BRITAIN
James Bulger was just two years old when he was abducted from the New Strand Shopping Centre in Bootle, Merseyside, on February 12, 1993.
His mother, Denise, had briefly lost sight of him while shopping.
CCTV footage captured the little boy being led away by two 10-year-old boys, Jon Venables and Robert Thompson.
The pair took James on a journey lasting several miles before subjecting him to a brutal αttαᑕk.
His body was eventually discovered on a railway line two days later.
The murder shocked Britain and became one of the country’s most notorious child murder cases.
Both boys were convicted of James’s murder and sentenced to detention during Her Majesty’s pleasure, the equivalent of a life sentence for children.
They were released on licence in 2001 after serving approximately eight years in custody, under new identities and strict conditions.
VENABLES’ RETURN TO PRISON
While Robert Thompson has remained out of prison, Venables has repeatedly returned to custody.
In February 2010, he was recalled to prison after indecent images of children were discovered on his computer.
He was released again in August 2013 but returned to prison in November 2017 after further offending involving indecent images of children.
In February 2018, he pleaded guilty to offences involving the making of indecent images of children and possession of a paedophile manual.
He received a 40-month prison sentence and has remained in custody since his recall.
His previous parole attempts have also been unsuccessful, with the 2023 review concluding that he continued to pose a risk to children.
The latest decision means he will remain incarcerated while further work is undertaken to address the concerns identified by the panel.
A MOTHER’S FIGHT DOES NOT END WITH THIS DECISION
Although Denise has welcomed the ruling, her spokesperson made clear that the family wants more than temporary relief.
They are calling for longer intervals between parole reviews where legally possible, stronger support for victims’ families and greater consideration of the emotional consequences of repeated hearings.
The family also hopes to meet Justice Secretary Alex Norris to discuss possible changes to the system.
Their argument is simple: families who have already endured unimaginable loss should not have to repeatedly relive their worst memories without meaningful support.
For Denise, every new parole review brings back the pain of losing James.
The latest ruling has given her some breathing room, but another review is expected in the future.
More than three decades have passed since little James was taken from his family.
His mother continues to speak out, determined that his memory will never disappear and that the impact of his murder will never be forgotten.
For now, Jon Venables remains behind bars.
And Denise Fergus has one more moment to breathe before the next chapter of a fight she never wanted begins again.
