“OVERWHELMING RELIEF” — JAMES BULGER’S MOTHER DENISE FERGUS SPEAKS OUT AS 𝘬iᩚller JON VENABLES IS KEPT BEHIND BARS AGAIN

For more than three decades, Denise Fergus has carried the unimaginable pain of losing her little boy, James Bulger.

Now, more than 33 years after the two-year-old was abducted and m𝑢rdєred, a new decision by Britain’s Parole Board has brought his mother a moment of relief.

Jon Venables, one of the two people convicted of James’s murder, will remain in prison after his latest parole review concluded that he was not suitable for release.

Speaking through her representative, Denise described her overwhelming feeling as one of relief.

But behind those words is a mother who has spent years fearing that the man responsible for her son’s dєatᩚh could once again be released.

THE CRIME THAT SHOCKED BRITAIN

On February 12, 1993, two-year-old James was abducted from the New Strand Shopping Centre in Bootle, Merseyside.

He had been with his mother when he disappeared.

The two boys responsible, Jon Venables and Robert Thompson, were both just 10 years old.

They took James away from the shopping centre and later m𝑢rdєred him. His body was discovered on a railway line two days after his disappearance.

The case horrified Britain and became one of the country’s most widely remembered child murder cases.

Venables and Thompson were convicted and sentenced to detention at Her Majesty’s Pleasure.

RELEASE — AND TWO RETURN JOURNEYS TO PRISON

Both boys were released on licence in July 2001, when they were 18, and given new identities.

But Venables was later 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.

In November 2017, he was recalled once more after further indecent images were discovered.

He subsequently pleaded guilty to offences involving the making of indecent images of children and possession of a prohibited manual.

Since then, his continued detention has been considered through a series of parole reviews.

THE LATEST DECISION: HE WILL NOT BE RELEASED

Venables, now 44, faced another parole review in 2026.

The hearing took place privately, despite Denise Fergus asking for it to be made public.

According to the published summary of the decision, Venables told the panel at the outset that he was not seeking release and accepted that he needed to undertake further offending-related work in custody.

The panel considered evidence from prison and community probation officers, three psychologists and a psychiatrist.

Although professionals assessed his expressions of remorse as genuine and sincere, serious concerns remained.

The panel was particularly concerned about continuing issues relating to his 𝘴єxual preoccupation, the possibility of further offending and the risks he could pose if released.

It concluded that it was not satisfied he was suitable for release.

Venables will therefore remain behind bars.

DENISE FERGUS: “OVERWHELMING RELIEF”

Following the announcement, a spokeswoman for Denise Fergus, Kym Morris, told Sky News that Denise’s overwhelming feeling was relief.

She welcomed the decision and said the possibility of Venables being released had caused her enormous anxiety.

Her representative also stressed that Denise’s concerns extended beyond her own family to the safety of other children.

But the decision has not ended the family’s ordeal.

The next parole review is expected in around two years, meaning Denise may once again have to prepare herself for the possibility of another hearing.

Her representative said the relief did not remove the distress of knowing that the process would eventually begin again.

The family is calling for changes to the parole system, including stronger support for bereaved families and consideration of the cumulative emotional impact of repeated reviews.

WHY DENISE WANTED THE HEARING TO BE PUBLIC

Before the latest review, Denise had asked for the hearing to be held in public.

She believed greater transparency could help counter misinformation surrounding the case and allow the family to feel that their voices were being heard.

However, the Parole Board rejected the application for a public hearing.

It said a public hearing could make it very difficult for Venables to give evidence because of the risk that people seeking information about his identity could be listening.

The decision meant the hearing remained private, although a summary of the panel’s findings was subsequently published.

A MOTHER’S FIGHT THAT HAS NEVER REALLY ENDED

For Denise, the latest decision brings a little breathing room.

But it cannot bring back James.

Her son was only two years old when his life was taken. For more than three decades, his name has remained part of Britain’s national memory, while his mother has continued to speak out about the impact of the crime and the treatment of victims’ families.

The latest ruling means Venables will remain in prison for now. It also means the family will eventually face another review and another period of uncertainty.

Today, Denise can breathe a little easier.

But the pain of losing James has never disappeared.

More than 33 years later, a mother’s love for her little boy remains — and so does her determination to keep his memory alive.