James Bulger’s mother reflects on son’s murder after 30 years: ‘Still in a state of shock’

James Bulger’s mother reflects on son’s murder after 30 years: ‘Still in a state of shock’
GB News
Georgia Pearce

By Georgia Pearce


Published: 15/12/2023

- 10:07

Updated: 15/12/2023

- 10:16

Jon Venables was denied a bid for parole following a two day hearing this week

Mother of James Bulger, Denise Fergus, has admitted she is "still in a state of shock", after her son was murdered 30 years ago.

On February 12th 1993, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables kidnapped, tortured and killed two-year-old Bulger in Liverpool.


Bulger's murderers were both only 10-years-old and were given life sentences in prison, before being released with new identities in 2001.

Venables was sent back to prison in 2010 after indecent images of children were found on his computer. He was recalled to jail again in 2017 for the same offence.

Denise Fergus

James Bulger's mother Denise has been fighting for justice for 30 years

PA

In recent years, Venables has pleaded for early release with hearings with the parole board, with one taking place this week.

Venables was denied his parole bid on Wednesday, as Justice Secretary Alex Chalk said he "welcomed" the ruling to "keep James' killer behind bars".

James' mother Denise told Eamonn Holmes that she now has "some kind of justice", following the ruling, but "feels numb" after 30 years of fighting.

Speaking to GB News, Eamonn asked Denise how she felt after receiving the call about the Parole Board's decision.

Denise revealed: "I was kind of numb. I think I still am in a state of shock because after 30 years, I finally feel like I'm getting listened to now and everything that I've said in the past, it's rung true.

"Because I did say if the two of them weren't properly punished for the crime that they committed, they only spent just over 7 years in a young offenders, they never went to an adult prison.

"And I did say if you don't spend any time in a proper jail, either one or both of them will go on to re offence and commit more crimes. And I was proven right with Venables."

Eamonn told Denise that the decision could mean Venables is only behind bars for "another two years", asking her "where do we go from here?"

Jon Venables

Jon Venables and Robert Thompson killed James Bulger in 1993

Getty

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Denise stated: "I've come 30 years fighting justice for James, and I'll do it for as long as I need to do it, as long as I can do it, until I get the proper justice.

"I feel like I've got some kinds of justice for him now because he's been denied parole, and I am getting the backings of some MPs now.

"Dominic Raab and Alex Chalk, what they've been saying to me, they've stood by their words and they've helped me get some kinds of justice which I've never had before."

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