“I’ll be there.” Those three words, spoken with a resolve forged in unimaginable grief, encapsulate Denise Fergus’s unyielding quest for justice. More than three decades after the brutal murder of her two-year-old son James Bulger shocked the world, Fergus, 56, has vowed to face Jon Venables, one of his killers, at his upcoming parole hearing. The emotional declaration, shared in an exclusive interview with The Mirror on November 5, 2025, has reignited public outrage and reopened wounds that time has failed to heal. “He needs to see the pain he caused—and know that I’ll never stop fighting for my boy,” Fergus said, her voice steady but laced with the raw ache of 32 years. As Venables, now 42, bids for release from his life sentence, Fergus’s promise underscores a mother’s eternal vigil, demanding accountability in a system that has granted the killers anonymity at the cost of her family’s peace.

The murder of James Bulger remains one of Britain’s most infamous crimes. On February 12, 1993, the toddler was lured from a Merseyside shopping center by Venables and Robert Thompson, both 10, and subjected to two hours of unspeakable torture before his body was left on a railway track to be severed by a train. The trial, the youngest murder conviction in modern British history, captivated and horrified the nation, leading to calls for the killers’ execution and sparking debates on youth crime. Thompson was released in 2001 and lives under a new identity; Venables, whose repeated offenses—including child pornography convictions in 2010 and 2018—have kept him incarcerated, now seeks parole again, his fourth attempt since 2013.

Fergus, a tireless advocate through the James Bulger Memorial Trust, has attended every hearing, her presence a silent indictment. “He’s hidden behind masks and new names, but I’ll look him in the eye,” she affirmed, clutching a faded photo of James in his Bob the Builder hat. Sources close to the family reveal she’s crafting a victim impact statement, detailing the endless grief, media harassment, and threats that have stalked her life. “It’s not revenge—it’s reality,” she explained. “He must confront the boy he stole from me.” Parole Board rules allow victims’ input, and Fergus’s words could tip the scales, especially after a 2024 High Court ruling barring Venables’s release due to risk.

Public support swells. #JusticeForJames trended with 2.5 million posts, fans echoing, “Denise is our hero—let her voice be heard.” Celebrities like Emma Thompson tweeted, “A mother’s fight is sacred—stand with Denise.” The Parole Board, chaired by Caroline Corby, faces scrutiny; past decisions to release Venables under anonymity have drawn ire, with 2023 protests demanding transparency.

For Fergus, married to businessman Mark Fergus since 2000, the battle is personal. With two grown children, she channels grief into advocacy, but the hearings reopen raw wounds. “James would be 32—playing with my grandkids, perhaps,” she muses. “Venables stole that future.”

As the hearing approaches in December 2025, Fergus’s vow isn’t just attendance—it’s confrontation. In Britain’s justice theater, where killers hide in plain sight, her presence is the spotlight. “I’ll be there,” she promises. “For James, always.” The nation watches, hearts heavy, hoping truth triumphs over time’s mercy.