Bulger Family Threatens Legal Action After Parole Hearing Exclusion

The family of James Bulger, the toddler murdered in 1993, has indicated they may pursue legal action after being denied entry to the parole hearing for one of his killers, Jon Venables. The hearing, which concerns Venables's latest bid for release, is scheduled to be held in private.

Venables and his accomplice, Robert Thompson, were convicted of torturing and murdering two-year-old James Bulger after abducting him from a shopping center near Liverpool. Initially released on license in 2001, Venables has been recalled to prison multiple times, most recently in November 2017, for offenses related to indecent images of children.

Previously, James's mother, Denise Fergus, her husband Stuart Fergus, and James's father, Ralph Bulger, had been informed they would be permitted to attend the hearing. However, the parole board has now reversed this decision, stating that a public hearing would increase the risk of identifying Venables and sensationalizing the case.

Lawyers representing Ms. Fergus have reportedly sent a letter to the parole board seeking an explanation for this change of decision. A source close to the family described the situation as emotionally exhausting and expressed outrage at the decision, stating the family feels "let down beyond belief."

At Venables's prior parole hearing in 2023, his request for freedom was denied as the board concluded he still posed a danger to children. Reforms implemented in April allowed victims to attend parole hearings held in private. However, the parole board cited concerns that Venables might find it difficult to give evidence if potentially exposed to individuals seeking to harm him, emphasizing the lifetime anonymity order granted to Venables.

Sir John Saunders, writing on behalf of the parole board, stated that the high bar for a public hearing to be in the interests of justice had not been met in this particular case. Jon Venables was ten years old at the time of the murder. In 2010, he was recalled to prison after indecent images of children were discovered on his computer. He was released again in August 2013, only to be recalled in November 2017 for the same offense. His case was previously reviewed by parole judges in September 2020.