Bulger's mother speaks out on Venables
EXCLUSIVE by Gary Maiden
© Trinity Mirror
James' mother Denise is angry but relieved that Venables (centre) is back in prison; James Bulger
The mother of James Bulger has spoken out about the arrest of Jon Venables and told JMU Journalism she always knew her son’s killers would reoffend.
Venables, who now has a new identity, was last month sent back to prison because of “extremely serious allegations” and Denise Fergus is still angry that her son’s murderers have been let off so lightly.
In an exclusive interview, she said: “I have always said that they [Venables and Robert Thompson] were never punished for James’ murder and that they will continue to reoffend.
“I have now been proven right and will have to see what happens with him."
Venables, along with Robert Thompson, abducted and murdered two year-old James in February 1993. The pair were just ten when they led James away from The Strand shopping centre in Bootle, and brutally murdered him on a nearby railway line. James’ body was found by children playing on a freight line over two miles away from the shopping centre and a mere 200 yards from Walton Lane police station.
In March it was announced that Venables, now 27, was taken back into custody for breaching the conditions of his licence, but the Ministry of Justice have refused to reveal any more details.
Denise fought to have the pair serve time in an adult jail and believes she should have been told by now why Venables is back behind bars.
“I have met with Jack Straw (Justice Secretary) and asked a lot of questions. A lot of my questions still need answering. Hopefully that will happen soon.
“I have been asking these questions ever since they were released nine years ago and have always been given very little. I am always the last to know anything about them.”
The 42-year-old admitted that the news of Venables being sent to prison has shaken her and her family.
She added: “They have been protected ever since their release. What about my three younger sons, who I have had to keep off school to protect them from what is happening?
“They have been rewarded for what they did to James. They have been given the best of everything - new identities, new homes. They have been treated like stars.”
James’ killers were given new identities when they were controversially released in 2001, although Venables could spend his remaining days behind bars after breaching the licence. The restrictions imposed included bans on returning to Merseyside, contacting James Bulger's family, or contacting each other. Numerous newspaper reports have speculated on the reasons for his re-arrest last month.
In 1993, the court heard of the breakdown of both boys’ families - of alcoholism, physical abuse, poverty and neglect. It has been argued that these experiences could have played a part in the pair’s mental wellbeing, but Denise doesn’t agree.
“There are plenty of children out there in worse circumstances than they were and they don’t choose to go and kill an innocent child. That is just an excuse.”
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Comments
Agree with Rebecca.
Enough is enough. Let the wheels of justice turn. Whatever we may think of Venables, as any suspect, we must preserve the integrity of the judicial process. (Jackie, I think Rebecca was referring to Thompson with regards strange people appearing desperate he commit another awful act. The fact that Thompson hasn't reoffended appears to disappoint some of the sicko vigilantes).
If Venables is guilty of a crime, he needs to be called to account for it, proved in a court, convicted and sentenced; and as time goes on and more hatred and venom is spewed, this is becoming increasingly unlikely.
And come on lads. Let's not let Liverpool down. The rest of the country sees us all as a bunch of vengeful salivating animals, banging on the vans that took Venables and Thompson to court. Let's prove to them we are better than that.
Jack Straw has already admitted that what he did is already in the public domain; and as he himself mentioned 'extremely serious allegations' we can assume it isn't for minor conduct.
Best wishes to Denise Fergus who must have enormous strength to just get out of bed each day.
Also, I should like to add that as far as we know, Thompson has not reoffended and we have no indication of the likelihood of this or not. It is almost as if there are those who are desperate for him to commit another evil act.
For goodness sake can we just let the law take its course?
All this coverage is merely going to ensure that Venables may never face trial - perhaps will not even be charged and could be released within a year. If he is guilty of another offence, is this REALLY the justice we want?