JAMES BULGER’S MOTHER SPEAKS OF ‘OVERWHELMING RELIEF’ AFTER SON’S 𝘬iᩚller IS DENIED PAROLE — BUT HER FIGHT IS FAR FROM OVER

More than three decades after her two-year-old son was brutally m𝑢rdєred, Denise Fergus has spoken of her overwhelming relief after a parole panel ruled that Jon Venables must remain behind bars. But while the decision offers some reassurance, it also renews her calls for changes to a system that has repeatedly forced her family to revisit their devastating loss.

The mother of m𝑢rdєred toddler James Bulger has expressed profound relief after a parole panel decided that one of her son’s killers, Jon Venables, would not be released from prison.

The decision follows a private parole hearing in which Venables, now 44, reportedly told the panel that he was not seeking release and accepted that he still had further work to complete while in custody.

For Denise Fergus, the ruling represents an important moment after years of anxiety surrounding the possibility that Venables could return to the community.

However, the decision does not bring an end to the family’s concerns. Denise continues to question aspects of the parole process and believes more should be done to protect families who have already endured unimaginable trauma.

A TWO-YEAR-OLD BOY WHO NEVER CAME HOME

James Bulger was just two years old when he was abducted and m𝑢rdєred in February 1993.

On February 12, James was with his mother, Denise, at the New Strand Shopping Centre in Bootle, Merseyside.

During a brief moment when Denise was distracted, the little boy disappeared.

He had been led away from the shopping centre by two 10-year-old boys, Jon Venables and Robert Thompson.

The pair took James on a journey through Liverpool before subjecting him to a brutal αttαᑕk.

His body was discovered two days later on a railway line, approximately two and a half miles from the shopping centre.

The murder shocked Britain and attracted international attention, particularly because of the young ages of the two perpetrators.

Venables and Thompson were convicted of James’s murder in November 1993 and sentenced to detention during Her Majesty’s pleasure.

Their identities were initially protected because they were children, and both were eventually released on licence in 2001.

But while Thompson has not returned to prison, Venables has repeatedly been recalled into custody following further offences involving indecent images of children.

WHY JON VENABLES REMAINS BEHIND BARS

Venables’ history following his release has been a continuing source of concern for James’s family.

In 2010, he was returned to prison after being found in possession of indecent images of children.

He was released again in 2013 but was recalled to custody in November 2017 after further offending involving child 𝘢bu𝘴e images.

He has remained in prison since that recall.

The latest parole hearing considered whether he could safely be released into the community.

During the proceedings, Venables reportedly indicated that he was not asking to be released and acknowledged that he had more work to do in custody.

The parole panel ultimately decided that he should remain in prison.

The decision provides reassurance to Denise, who has repeatedly expressed concerns about the potential risks associated with his release.

For her family, the issue has never been simply about whether a prisoner has served a certain amount of time. It is also about whether the public, particularly children, would be adequately protected.

DENISE FERGUS WANTS THE PAROLE PROCESS TO CHANGE

Although Denise welcomed the outcome, she has also continued to raise concerns about the way parole hearings affect victims’ families.

The latest proceedings were held privately, despite her efforts to have the hearing made public.

She believes greater transparency would help families understand how decisions are reached and allow the public to better understand the risks being considered.

However, the request for a public hearing was not granted.

The private nature of the proceedings has added to the family’s frustration, particularly after years of having to follow repeated developments in Venables’ case.

Denise has also called for changes that would prevent families from being repeatedly subjected to the emotional strain of parole reviews.

Every new hearing brings back memories of the devastating loss of James and forces his loved ones to confront the possibility that his 𝘬iᩚller could be released.

For a mother who has spent more than 30 years living with that loss, the emotional impact is enormous.

RELIEF DOES NOT MEAN THE PAIN IS OVER

The latest decision has given Denise some breathing room, but it does not erase the trauma her family has experienced.

The possibility of another parole review in the future means that the family may once again have to prepare for the same difficult questions.

Denise has continued to campaign for James’s memory and for the rights of victims’ families, determined that their voices should not be overlooked when decisions about serious offenders are made.

Her message reflects a broader concern about the balance between rehabilitation, public safety and the emotional wellbeing of victims’ relatives.

For now, the decision means Venables will remain behind bars.

And for Denise, that brings the overwhelming relief she has been hoping for.

But more than 33 years after James was taken from her, one thing remains unchanged: the little boy she lost will never be forgotten.

James Bulger was only two years old. His life was stolen, but his memory continues to live on through the mother who has never stopped fighting for him.