The mother of murdered toddler James Bulger is seeking a public parole hearing for Jon Venables, one of her son's killers. Denise Fergus stated that an open hearing would compel Venables to "face up" to his crimes and help the public better understand the parole process, which she believes has been subject to "disinformation" that has re-traumatized her family.
Venables, who was 10 years old when he, along with fellow 10-year-old Robert Thompson, abducted, tortured, and murdered two-year-old James Bulger on February 12, 1993, is now 43. He was first released on license in 2001 but has been recalled to prison twice. The first recall occurred in 2010 after he was convicted of possessing indecent images of children, and the second in 2017 for an unspecified reason. His most recent bid for release was denied in 2023.
Earlier this year, Mrs. Fergus was informed that Venables would be given another opportunity to argue for his freedom. A date for this upcoming hearing has not yet been set.
"Once again, Denise Fergus has been forced to confront a process that reopens unimaginable trauma," a family spokeswoman, Kym Morris, said in January. "Denise was hoping for a redirection, allowing her a measure of peace and protection from further distress. That hope has now been taken away."
The Parole Board has confirmed it received an application from Mrs. Fergus and her husband, Stuart Fergus, requesting a public hearing due to the exceptional public interest in the case. According to a published summary of the application, the couple argued that an open hearing could "increase understanding" of the parole system. They also contended that Venables should "face up to his offending by way of a public hearing, especially given that he has committed further serious offences as an adult."
The couple highlighted Venables's further convictions as an adult as an "exceptional feature" of the case, further supporting their argument for a public hearing. Venables and his legal team also have the opportunity to make representations regarding the application. Other members of the public can submit their views either for or against the application until August 14.
Prior to 2022, all Parole Board hearings were conducted privately, and the reasons for release decisions were not published. A legal challenge following the 2018 decision to release the "black cab rapist" Jon Worboys led to changes in the law. The High Court overturned that decision and also struck down the secrecy rule surrounding parole decisions. The government subsequently introduced a rule allowing the public to apply for hearings to be held in public under specific circumstances, though the Parole Board retains the discretion to refuse such applications.
The murder of James Bulger, who was lured away from his mother by Venables and Thompson while she was shopping, sent shockwaves across the nation due to the horrific nature of the attack and the young age of the perpetrators. Both Venables and Thompson were granted new identities upon their release, and a High Court injunction remains in place prohibiting the publication of their new identities.