Denise Fergus, the heartbroken mum of murdered toddler James Bulger, has made an emotional appeal for information after admitting ‘today, I felt my heart break again’
The devastated mum of James Bulger has made a desperate plea for information after her son’s grave was vandalised. James was just two years old when he was brutally killed by then-10-year-olds Jon Venables and Robert Thompson in February 1993.
In a gut-wrenching statement shared on social media, James’ mum Denise Fergus revealed the shocking news that her son’s grave had been targeted in what she believes was deliberate vandalism, reports the Liverpool Echo. She said: “Today I felt my heart break once again.
“We got a message from a lady walking her dog at the cemetery where James’s resting place is. She sadly told us his headstone and surround had been vandalised.
“We rushed down there to find the cherubs each side of his headstone had been smashed to pieces. I need to find whoever [has] done this to my son’s resting place.
“I try to help as many families as I can with either justice campaigns or helping families through the charity I set up in his memory and some horrid b****** has done this… to a baby’s grave! Really?”
“If anyone has any information please send it via the charity page or contact Merseyside Police and let them know if you have seen or heard something.
“We think this happened between 10am and 3.30pm today. Could you please share this post to make sure the person or persons involved are caught and prosecuted?”.
“I’m devastated someone could be so cruel and hurtful to my James.”
In photographs taken of the grave, the heads of two stone angels positioned in front of the headstone have been vandalised, rendering the sculptures headless. The broken heads were abandoned on the ground.
Earlier this year, Denise condemned the decision to grant murderer Venables another parole hearing.
Venables was released on licence in July 2001 and recalled to prison in February 2010 after indecent images of children were discovered on his computer.
He was freed once more in August 2013 before being recalled in November 2017 for the same offence and sentenced to three years and four months.
Denise has been permitted to attend one of Venables’ hearings for the very first time. She will then be escorted to a secret prison or court facility to take part in the parole hearing, where Venables’ identity – now aged 43 – will remain protected, though she will hear his voice via video link from a separate chamber.
Parole officials are likely to hear mitigation from Venables about why he believes he has been rehabilitated – the first time the grieving mum has heard her son’s killer’s voice for 30 years, reports the Mirror.
Speaking to the Daily Mirror, Denise said: “It is distressing and frankly makes me angry that I’ve now been told that James’ killer will be afforded a parole hearing and a chance of release. Surely this person has proved he can not be given yet another chance yet he’s been given one.
“The parole board must remember, he’s not a 10-year-old anymore. He’s bigger, he’s stronger, he’s got more wits about him. He’s been educated to lie to his back teeth. My worry is that if he’s released, he’ll lose that protection, he’ll be looking over his shoulder the whole time, he’ll have a target on his back. He’s not going to like it in the real world. What is he going to do to get back inside?”.
If you have any information about the vandalism contact Merseyside Police on 101 or call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.