James Bulger’s mum Denise Fergus shared her ‘anger’ and ‘distress’ as one of her son’s killers, Jon Venables, was granted a new parole bid

James Bulger was killed in 1993(Image: PA)

The mother of killed toddler James Bulger revealed what she fears the most as her son’s murderer Jon Venables is granted a parole hearing.

Evil Venables was just 10 years old when he and Robert Thompson, also 10, took toddler James from a shopping centre in Bootle, Merseyside, in February 1993. The 10-year-olds horrifically tortured and murdered the little boy in a crime that shocked the nation. Venables was initially freed from prison in 2001 but was recalled in 2010 and 2017 after he was found in possession of child abuse images. The murderer has been granted another shot at freedom from prison after he was denied parole in 2023.

Heartbroken mum Denise Fergus, 57, told The Mirror what she frightens her as she faces her boy’s killer.

Denise said the potential release was ‘distressing’(Image: CHRIS NEILL)

The Mirror revealed the murderer was granted a fresh parole bid on Monday, which is expected to take place next month. This means he could be out of jail by the end of the year if his request is accepted.

Denise revealed she has been granted access to the hearing, which would be the first of Venables’ parole hearings she has attended. The devastated mum will not be able to see the killers’ face, as his new identity will be protected, but she will hear his voice for the first time in three decades – through a video link in a separate room.

Jon Venables has been granted a parole meeting(Image: PA)

Sharing her deepest fear about the potential release, grieving Denise told The Mirror: “Until I’m in the room I don’t know how I’ll react, whether fury will rise in me at the sound of him, because it’s the first hearing I’ve ever attended. I expect I’ll have to sit on my hands and keep my mouth shut or I’ll get kicked out of the room.”

Denise was told by parole officers that they deemed it fair for Venables to have an oral hearing after receiving written submissions from prison workers, counsellors, psychiatrists and impact statements from members of James’ family, including Denise.

The grieving mum said: “I have learned to prepare for the worst over the past 30 years or so but when the news came it was still upsetting. It’s galling they’ve given him another parole hearing after he decided not to turn up to the last one in 2023. It means weeks of purgatory now. We now need to wait and on hearing the news my first thought was of how I ready myself for being at the hearing and the importance of letting my son’s killer know that I’m listening in.”

James was lured away by the evil 10 years olds before they killed him(Image: PA)

Denise explained how the harrowing wait for the parole decision felt, saying: “It doesn’t make it any easier though. I’ll be thinking about it all the time. I’ll be waking up thinking, ‘is today the day of the parole hearing’. I don’t want to live on my nerves anymore. I feel like I’m the one in prison, not him.”

Both Thompson and Venables were released after less than eight years in a reoffenders institute, and Thompson is not believed to have reoffended. Venables, at the last minute, refused to attend his last parole hearing in December 2023.

A Parole Board spokesperson said: “The Secretary of State for Justice has referred Jon Venables’ case to the Parole Board for a review. A member of the Parole Board has assessed the case on the papers, by reviewing a dossier of evidence, and has directed that an oral hearing should take place. The date for this hearing is yet to be set.

Thompson is not believed to have reoffended after his release(Image: PA)

“Parole Board decisions are solely focused on what risk a prisoner could represent to the public if released and whether that risk is manageable in the community. A panel will carefully examine a huge range of evidence, including details of the original crime, and any evidence of behaviour change, as well as explore the harm done and impact the crime has had on the victims.

“Members read and digest hundreds of pages of evidence and reports in the lead up to an oral hearing. Evidence from witnesses including probation officers, psychiatrists and psychologists, officials supervising the offender in prison as well as victim personal statements are then given at the hearing.

“The prisoner and witnesses are then questioned at length during the hearing which often lasts a full day or more. Parole reviews are undertaken thoroughly and with extreme care. Protecting the public is our number one priority.”