James Bulger‘s mother says she and her family can ‘totally enjoy Christmas‘ after Jon Venables was barred from freedom as the Parole Board ruled he was too dangerous to be released.
Venables, who was one of two boys jailed for the killing of two-year-old James in 1993, had his application rejected after officials said they believed he continued to pose a risk to the public.
Speaking today, his mother Denise Fergus said she could finally ‘see some light at the end of the tunnel’ after decades of fighting for justice for her son, adding: ‘I was dreading Christmas…but now our family can totally enjoy Christmas.’
Venables, 41, was only ten years old when he and accomplice Robert Thompson snatched James from the New Strand Shopping Centre in Bootle, Merseyside in February 1993, torturing the youngster before dumping his body on a railway line.
The killer was originally released from prison in 2001 but has since been returned to prison twice for possessing indecent images of children, most recently in 2017.
James Bulger’s mother Denise Fergus says she sees ‘some light at the end of the tunnel’ after her son’s killer Jon Venables was denied parole
Jon Venables, pictured here in his mugshot, was just 10 years old when he brutally murdered toddler James Bulger in 1993
The murder of James Bulger (pictured above), who was kidnapped from a shopping centre and tortured to death by two 10-year-old boys, shocked the nation
James Bulger’s mother, Denise Welch, alongside Kym Morris, chairwoman of the James Bulger’s Memorial Trust on Good Morning Britain on Thursday
Appearing on TV on Thursday morning, Ms Fergus said the Parole Board’s decision represented ‘justice for James’.
‘It’s taken me 30 years to get here. I finally now feel that I have been listened to,’ she told Good Morning Britain.
‘I said in the very beginning if them two weren’t properly punished either one or both of them would go on to reoffend and that’s exactly what’s happened.
‘I’ve had too many sleepless nights over this once again because I know for a fact if he was released…we would end up with another case like James’ and that is something I do not want any other family to go through.
‘This news, that he’s not getting released, is such a relief for me and my family and my close friends.
‘We still can’t really adjust to what we’ve been told because this is the first time I’ve gotten something my way.’
Ms Fergus said the recent months in the run up to Venables’ parole hearing had been an ’emotional rollercoaster’ and ‘one hell of a bumpy road’.
She continued: ‘I’m hoping now I’ll get some peace of mind. I’m hoping this is a bit of justice for James.
‘I don’t feel he (Venables) should ever see the light of day again. I can see some light at the end of the tunnel and I hope it gets brighter and brighter for me.
‘I don’t want James to be remembered as the murdered child, I want him to be remembered as positivity.
‘I was dreading Christmas with this hanging over me but now our family can totally enjoy Christmas.’
Kym Morris, spokeswoman and chairwoman of the James Bulger’s Memorial Trust said following the decision that yesterday was ‘the day Denise has waited for years.’
Ms Morris added: ‘The prospect of him coming out was terrifying as we knew he’d harm again. This is a day we celebrate and we thank the parole board for making the correct decision.’
James’ father Ralph and his uncle Jimmy Bulger added in a joint statement they were ‘relieved at the decision’, and that Venables’ continued offending after his release ‘had a traumatic impact on us.’
James’ mother Denise Fergus (pictured in 2020) has praised the Parole Board and said it is a ‘day for celebration’
CCTV shows Jon Venables and Robert Thompson leading James Bulger away inside a shopping centre in Bootle, Merseyside in February 1993
Robert Thompson, pictured here in his mugshot, who murdered James Bulgar with Venables, has not reoffended since his release from prison
It was reported last week that Venables had claimed he was ‘reformed’ and ‘no danger’ to the public in his latest bid for freedom, sparking pleas from James’s family to keep him locked up.
He had been granted a private two-day parole hearing after it was ruled it would ‘harm his mental health’ if it took place in public, but he did not attend to give evidence in person.
Now after two weeks of deliberations, the Parole Board has determined that the child murderer is still too much of a danger to the public to be released.
Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary, Alex Chalk KC, backed the decision to keep Venables behind bars.
He said: ‘James Bulger’s barbaric murder was a crime that shocked the nation and I welcome the Parole Board’s decision to keep his killer behind bars.
‘Public protection is our number one priority which is why I opposed Jon Venables’ release and this Government is reforming the parole system to introduce a stronger ministerial check on the release of the most dangerous offenders.’
A spokesperson for the Parole Board told MailOnline: ‘We can confirm that a panel of the Parole Board refused the release of Jon Venables following an oral hearing.
‘Parole Board decisions are solely focused on what risk a prisoner could represent to the public if released and whether that risk is manageable in the community.
‘A panel will carefully examine a huge range of evidence, including details of the original crime, and any evidence of behaviour change, as well as explore the harm done and impact the crime has had on the victims.
‘Members read and digest hundreds of pages of evidence and reports in the lead up to an oral hearing.
‘Evidence from witnesses such as probation officers, psychiatrists and psychologists, officials supervising the offender in prison as well as victim personal statements may be given at the hearing.
‘It is standard for the prisoner and witnesses to be questioned at length during the hearing which often lasts a full day or more. Parole reviews are undertaken thoroughly and with extreme care. Protecting the public is our number one priority.’
The spokesperson added: ‘Under current legislation he will be eligible for a further review in due course. The date of the next review will be set by the Ministry of Justice.’
It was reported last week that James’ family had written to the Parole Board over suggestions that one of their son’s killers could be released.
A family source said last week: ‘The family has written to the decision makers, saying they believe Venables is a danger to the public and to children, and that he needs to be kept locked up.’
The insider went on to say that it should be ‘a cut and dry case’ and that were was no need for extra time to debate if ‘monster’ Venables should be released.
James Bulger’s father Ralph (pictured) said he was ‘relieved at the decision’ to keep Venables behind bars
Denise Fergus has campaigned for decades to keep her son’s killers behind bars – pictured here in February 2001 as it emerged that Venables and Thompson could be released. They were ultimately released in July that year
Venables’ parole bid has already sparked controversy after it emerged that he skipped giving evidence during the two-day hearing to prevent ‘disproportionate emotional stress.’
Venables and fellow 10-year-old Robert Thompson horrified Britain when they snatched toddler James from a shopping centre in Bootle, Merseyside.
The pair kidnapped and tortured James, before leaving his mutilated body by a railway line 30 years ago.
The child killers were convicted of murder in November 1993 and detained indefinitely.
The pair were released aged 18 in 2001 after just eight years and given new identities. Thompson has not reoffended.
Following his released in 2001, Venables was recalled to prison twice, in 2010 and 2017, having been found to be in possession of indecent images of children.
Venables was turned down for parole in 2020 after serving his minimum 40 months.
After his 2001 release he was given a new name – which may happen if he is freed again. Previous conditions placed on Venables included informing his parole officer if he ever got a job and getting their permission before leaving the UK.
He had to regularly see a forensic psychologist and was banned from contacting Robert Thompson or any member of James Bulger’s family.
He also had to ask his parole officer for permission to leave Merseyside, stay overnight in the same house as a child under 16 or spend time with anyone under 12.