Brother of murdered James Bulger says he will never forgive killer 30 years on
Brother of murdered James Bulger says he will never forgive the killer as he speaks of anguish 30 years on – as victim’s father claims Dominic Raab ‘reassured him Jon Venables doesn’t deserve to ever be released’
- James Bulger was murdered in 1993 eight months before his brother was born
- The family say Dominic Raab told them Jon Venables ‘does not deserve’ release
- Venables and Robert Thompson tortured and killed James at just 10 years old
Ahead of the 30th anniversary of the abduction, torture and murder of two-year-old James Bulger today, his family are launching a renewed appeal for killer Jon Venables to remain behind bars and say Justice Secretary Dominic Raab agrees he should never be released.
James was killed by the men formerly known as Venables, 40, and Robert Thompson, 39 – who were then both aged 10 – after they snatched him from a shopping centre in Bootle, Merseyside, on February 12 1993.
His body was discovered two days later several miles away on a railway track.
Both men were released in 2001 on licence for life, but Venables has been recalled to prison twice, in 2010 and 2017, having found to be in possession of indecent images of children.
He is due to face a parole board hearing imminently. Thompson has not reoffended.
James Bulger, age two, was abducted and murdered by 10 year old boys Jon Venables and Robert Thompson
Jon Venables has been twice returned to custody over possessing indecent images of children
Brother Michael Fergus, 29, has said after three decades that he will never forgive his brother’s killers, adding that Venables must be kept behind bars.
James’ family have fought a 30-year-long battle to keep the toddler’s killers in prison.
Speaking ahead of the 30th anniversary of the tragedy on Sunday, brother Michael Fergus said he wants ‘justice for James’ in the form of murderer Jon Venables remaining behind bars, along with his accomplice.
Mr Fergus was born eight months later, and though he never got to meet his brother, he has grown up with the effects of the tragedy.
Now a 29-year-old landscape gardener living in north-west England, Mr Fergus told the Sunday Express: ‘My brother’s killers will never be forgiven. They took away my older brother who I never got to meet.’
He added: ‘They robbed me of my childhood, in a nutshell.’
Michael also criticised the accommodations made for his brother’s killers, such as new identities on their release: ‘I try not to give his killers any time in my thoughts, but I still hate them for what they did. It’s disgusting the way they have been treated.’
He added that ‘justice for James’ meant ‘keeping Venables behind bars’ to provide ‘peace of mind’ for the family, particularly their mother.
He still lives close to his mother Denise, and her husband Stuart, in north west England. Denise and James’ father Ralph divorced in 1995 as grief took its toll.
His comments come as James’ father Ralph Bulger, 56, revealed Justice Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister told him he agrees that ‘criminals such as Venables don’t deserve to ever be released from prison.’
Robert Thompson, who was also aged 10 at the time of James’ murder, was released in 2001 and has not reoffended. Both killers are on life licences
Mother Denise Fergus paid a touching tribute to her son ahead of the 30th anniversary of his death today
Mr Bulger told the Sun: ‘His words were a huge relief and a comfort to me. His support gives a glimmer of hope after 30 long years of fighting a system that never wanted to listen.’
He said Mr Raab talked to him ‘as a father’ and said the MP told him ‘he could not even imagine the heartbreak and pain I suffered.’
Mr Bulger added he believes Mr Raab truly wants to introduce tougher sentences on criminals such as Venables.
He continued: ‘To have a powerful politician on your side is a huge shift after 30 years of being beaten down by the establishment. I’m not expecting miracles, but I trust he will do everything he can.’
Speaking about killer Venables, Mr Bulger said: ‘You have to stay one step ahead of Venables. He’s enemy number one for vulnerable children. Let him out and he’ll kill another child like James.’
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has said Justice Secretary Dominic Raab, who is also deputy prime minister, will ‘do everything in his power’ to keep dangerous offenders in jail.
A spokesperson said: ‘The Deputy Prime Minister will do everything in his power to keep dangerous offenders behind bars and has set out plans to overhaul the parole process and put victims at the heart of the process.’
Last month, James’ mother Denise said she hoped that new laws being worked on by the Justice Secretary Dominic Raab would mean Jon Venables would never ‘see the light of day again’
James’ father said Mr Raab talked to him ‘as a father’ and the MP told him ‘he could not even imagine the heartbreak and pain I suffered’
Thompson and Venables were jailed for life but released on licence with new identities in 2001.
Last month, James’ mother Denise said she hoped that new laws being worked on by the Justice Secretary Dominic Raab would mean Jon Venables would never ‘see the light of day again’.
She previously said that Mr Raab promised her his reform bill would keep the killer behind bars.
Speaking ahead of the 30th anniversary of the death of her son, she gave a beautiful tribute to the two-year-old.
She told the Mirror: ‘The day will be spent not thinking about what happened so tragically but remembering our beautiful James running around the house constantly giggling and dancing, which he loved to do.’
James suffered 42 injuries at the hands of the 10-year-old killers, before he was hit by a train and killed.
Venables, 40, was sent back to prison in 2010 and 2017 for possessing indecent images of children.
He has also received cautions for separate incidents of affray and possession of cocaine.
Venables was refused parole in 2020 and but has made a new bid for freedom.
Dominic Raab and the Department of Justice have been contacted for comment.