“OVERWHELMING RELIEF” — JAMES BULGER’S MOTHER SPEAKS OUT AFTER SON’S 𝘬iᩚller JON VENABLES IS DENIED PAROLE AGAIN

More than 33 years after the heartbreaking murder of her two-year-old son, Denise Fergus has finally received news she had desperately been waiting for. Jon Venables, one of the men responsible for James Bulger’s dєatᩚh, will remain behind bars after a Parole Board panel ruled that he was not suitable for release.

For Denise, the decision has brought what her family describes as “overwhelming relief.” But alongside that relief is the painful knowledge that another parole review will eventually force them to revisit one of the darkest chapters of their lives.

Venables, now 44, appeared before a Parole Board panel during a private hearing as part of his latest review. In an unexpected development, he told the panel that he was not seeking release and accepted that he needed to complete further offending-related work while in prison.

THE TRAGIC CASE THAT SHOCKED BRITAIN

The murder of James Bulger remains one of the most devastating child murder cases in modern British history.

On February 12, 1993, two-year-old James was abducted from the New Strand Shopping Centre in Bootle, Merseyside, by Jon Venables and Robert Thompson, who were both just 10 years old at the time.

The little boy was taken away from his family and subjected to a horrific αttαᑕk. His body was later discovered on a railway line.

The case shocked the nation and left James’s parents, Denise Fergus and Ralph Bulger, facing an unimaginable loss.

Venables and Thompson were convicted of abduction and murder and sentenced to detention during Her Majesty’s pleasure.

Both were released on licence in 2001, when they were 18, under new identities.

However, Venables was subsequently returned to prison following further offences involving indecent images of children.

WHY JON VENABLES WILL REMAIN IN PRISON

The latest parole review examined whether Venables could safely be released into the community.

According to the published summary of the panel’s findings, he acknowledged that further work was necessary before he could be considered for release.

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

Although professionals assessed his expressions of remorse for James’s murder as genuine and sincere, significant concerns remained about his risk of future offending.

The decision summary revealed that Venables had admitted to a long-term 𝘴єxual interest in children and indecent images of children.

The panel also identified continuing concerns about 𝘴єxual preoccupation and the possibility that he could return to viewing child 𝘴єxual 𝘢bu𝘴e images or progress to offences involving direct contact with children.

There were also concerns about how effectively he would cooperate with probation officers and how open and honest he would be under supervision if released.

After considering the evidence, the panel concluded that it was not satisfied he was suitable for release.

He will therefore remain in prison.

DENISE FERGUS SPEAKS OF HER RELIEF

Following the announcement, Denise’s spokesperson, Kym Morris, said her overwhelming feeling was one of relief.

The prospect of Venables being released had caused Denise enormous anxiety, particularly given his history of repeated offending.

Her concerns, the spokesperson explained, extend beyond her own family to the potential safety of other children.

The decision is one Denise had desperately hoped for, but the emotional impact of the process has not disappeared.

For more than three decades, she has had to live with the consequences of losing her young son. Each new parole review brings back painful memories and the fear that one of the people responsible for his dєatᩚh could eventually walk free.

WHY THE FAMILY WANTED A PUBLIC PAROLE HEARING

Another major source of frustration for Denise was the decision to hold the latest hearing privately.

She and her family had requested that the proceedings be made public, believing that transparency would help them understand the decision and feel that their voices were being heard.

However, the Parole Board rejected the application.

The Board explained that a public hearing could make it extremely difficult for Venables to give evidence because of concerns that people seeking information about his identity might use it to harm him.

Parole hearings are generally held in private, although they can be made public in certain circumstances when considered to be in the interests of justice.

For Denise, the decision meant another important stage in the process would take place behind closed doors.

Her family believes that bereaved relatives should have greater opportunities to understand decisions that have such a profound impact on their lives.

A CALL FOR CHANGES TO THE PAROLE SYSTEM

Although the latest decision has brought relief, Denise’s family is now calling for changes to the parole process for prisoners serving life sentences.

They believe families should receive stronger support and protection from the cumulative emotional trauma of repeated parole reviews.

The family is particularly concerned about the frequency of these reviews and the distress caused by having to prepare for the possibility of release again and again.

They are seeking longer intervals between reviews where legally possible, as well as greater consideration of the impact on victims’ families.

Denise’s representatives also hope to meet Justice Secretary Alex Norris to discuss their concerns and proposals for reform.

According to her spokesperson, the latest decision allows Denise to breathe a little easier, but the knowledge that another review will follow means the ordeal is far from over.

Venables is expected to be eligible for another review in approximately two years, although the exact date has not been announced.

MORE THAN THREE DECADES LATER, JAMES IS NEVER FORGOTTEN

For Denise Fergus, no parole decision can change what happened to her little boy on that February day in 1993.

James was only two years old. He should have grown up surrounded by his family, celebrated countless birthdays and experienced all the ordinary milestones of childhood.

Instead, his mother has spent more than three decades keeping his memory alive while navigating a justice system that repeatedly brings her back to the tᩚraɢedy.

The latest ruling offers a period of reassurance, but it cannot erase the grief or the years of emotional suffering.

As her family continues to call for changes, Denise’s message is also about protecting other families from experiencing the same repeated trauma.

For now, one thing remains clear: James Bulger is still remembered, and his mother’s determination to speak for him has never faded.

SOURCE: Sky News, BBC News, ITV News — November 9, 2026.

Sources:

• https://news.sky.com/story/a-13610195
• https://www.bbc.co.uk/news
• https://www.itv.com/news/2026-11-09/one-of-the-killers-of-james-bulger-to-remain-in-prison