The Parole Board have said they cannot hold Jon Venables’ hearing in public amid fears for the his safety as the family tell the Daily Star they want him to ‘rot’ in prison
The family of tragic murdered tot James Bulger will finally get the chance to speak in front of their boy’s killer as he bids for release – but it will have to be behind closed doors.
The Parole Board have announced today (September 28) that vile monster Jon Venables will not face a public parole hearing despite the desperate pleas from James’ family to make sure it is held in public. Mum Denise Fergus demanded that the upcoming parole hearing for her son’s killer be held in public so he is forced to “face up” to his crimes.
But the murderer will have his latest freedom bid heard in private, the Parole Board has decided. The decision was made despite an official application from Denise and a number of media outlets.
Venables, who was aged 10 when he tortured and murdered two-year-old James Bulger in 1993, will have his case heard by parole chiefs at an oral hearing more than two years after his last appeal.
Parole Board hearings are usually held in private but they can be made public “in the interests of justice”. But they have said they cannot hold this hearing in public amid fears for Jon Venables’ safety.
In reaching its decision, the Parole Board said a public hearing would make it “very difficult for Jon Venables to give evidence” because he could be “being listened to by people who are seeking to get information so that they can kill him”.
Ms Fergus said a public hearing would help combat “misinformation” about the case which had a “retraumatising impact” on her but the parole board said they had to protect the offender.
The board noted that making the case public would increase “the risk of identifying the prisoner and of sensationalising the case”.
Venables is set to have his latest bid for freedom heard by the Parole Board next month with a two day hearing slated for the middle of October.
Venables was released on licence in July 2001 but was recalled to prison in February 2010 after indecent images of children were found on his computer. He was later freed a second time for the same offence in 2017.
In 2023, the Parole Board rejected Venables’ bid for freedom, concluding he still posed a danger to children and could go on to reoffend.
And the heartbroken family of James have revealed to the Daily Star told how they believe he should “rot” for the rest of his life behind bars.
A source close to the family said: ” The crime may have been done 30-odd years ago, but for us, it feels like yesterday.
“This case has dominated our lives, and this monster in particular will just not go away.
“It is clear he has not rehabilitated. Just look at his record. He isn’t ‘getting better’. He is a cancer to society and deserves to rot in prison until he dies.”