“A State of Shock” — James Bulger’s Mother Speaks Out as Killer Jon Venables Fights for Release Before Christmas

It has been more than three decades since the brutal murder of two-year-old James Bulger shocked Britain to its core, but the horror of that day in February 1993 still casts a long shadow. Now, as Jon Venables – one of the two boys convicted of killing James – prepares for a parole hearing that could set him free before Christmas, the anguish of James’s family has been reignited.

Denise Fergus, James’s mother, has long campaigned to keep Venables behind bars, describing him as an ongoing threat to the public. This week, she admitted that the very prospect of his release has left her in “a state of shock.”

Venables, now 41, is serving time after being jailed in 2017 for possessing child sexual abuse images – his second conviction for the same crime. The material was described as some of the most disturbing imaginable, including depictions of male toddlers being abused. Yet despite his repeat offending, the Parole Board has confirmed that Venables will be granted a two-day hearing in November, sparking outrage from campaigners and the Bulger family alike.

“One of the Biggest Dangers to Our Country”

Speaking on behalf of Denise Fergus, Kym Morris, the chair of the James Bulger Memorial Trust, issued a stark warning. “She firmly believes that if he is released, he will undoubtedly offend again,” Morris said. “The recent news regarding his parole has left her in a state of shock. The thought of him being allowed back into our communities is undeniably alarming.”

Morris added that Fergus is “deeply concerned” and thanked the public for their continued support, describing it as “greatly appreciated during this difficult time.”

For Fergus, the pain of her son’s death has never faded. She has consistently argued that Venables should never walk free again, insisting that his repeated pattern of offending shows he cannot be trusted outside prison walls.

A Crime That Stunned the World

James Bulger’s murder remains one of the most harrowing crimes in modern British history. In February 1993, Venables and his classmate Robert Thompson, both just 10 years old at the time, abducted James from a shopping centre in Bootle, Merseyside. Hours later, the toddler was found dead.

The shocking nature of the crime – committed by two children barely old enough to understand the weight of their actions – horrified the nation. The case made global headlines and sparked debates about childhood criminality, justice, and rehabilitation that continue to this day.

Venables and Thompson became the youngest people ever to stand trial for murder in the UK. They were sentenced to custody until the age of 18 and released in 2001 under new identities. While Thompson has stayed out of trouble since then, Venables has become notorious for his repeated brushes with the law.

Venables’s Troubling History Since Release

Since his release, Venables’s behaviour has painted a grim picture. He was arrested in 2008 for affray and possession of cocaine, only to land back in prison in 2010 after pleading guilty to downloading child sexual abuse images.

Though he was granted parole and freed again in 2013, his freedom was short-lived. By 2017, Venables was once again caught with child abuse material, including a disturbing “paedophile manual” and more than 1,100 unlawful images and videos, one-third of which fell into the most severe category. Many of these depicted the abuse of toddlers.

It was this latest offence that saw him sentenced to prison once again – and now, just six years later, he is pushing for release.

The Upcoming Parole Hearing

The two-day parole hearing is set for 14 November and will be conducted in private, despite calls for greater transparency in the Parole Board process. A three-person panel will review testimony from prison and probation officials, as well as from Venables himself.

The panel must decide whether he still poses a danger to society. If they rule that he does not, Venables could technically walk free within days. However, Justice Secretary Alex Chalk has the power to challenge the decision, and it is widely expected that he would intervene if parole is granted.

Still, the very possibility of Venables being released has rattled the public. Many see his repeated offending as proof that rehabilitation has failed. For the Bulger family, the thought of him walking the streets again is unbearable.

Public Outrage and Lingering Fear

For many in Britain, the name Jon Venables has become synonymous with danger. The public’s emotional reaction reflects not only the brutality of James Bulger’s murder but also Venables’s ongoing record of offending.

The case continues to evoke strong emotions even 30 years later, with many believing that Venables represents a unique and continuing threat. Social media has been flooded with messages of support for Denise Fergus, alongside calls for life imprisonment without parole.

As the parole date draws closer, the tension surrounding the case is mounting. Some fear that Venables will be released once again, only to reoffend – a cycle that has already repeated itself too many times.

A Mother’s Endless Fight

For Denise Fergus, every new development in Venables’s story brings back memories of the darkest moment in her life. Though she has spent three decades campaigning for justice in her son’s name, she is now faced with the chilling reality that his killer may be freed once again.

“I will never accept him walking free,” she has said in the past. “James deserves better.”

And as November looms, her words carry more weight than ever. For Britain, the case remains a haunting reminder of an unthinkable crime—and for James’s mother, it is a lifelong battle to ensure that Jon Venables never escapes accountability.

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