JAMES BULGER’S MOTHER SPEAKS OF ‘OVERWHELMING RELIEF’ AS SON’S KILLER IS DENIED RELEASE — BUT SHE FACES ANOTHER PAINFUL WAIT

More than 33 years after the horrific murder of her two-year-old son, Denise Fergus has welcomed a decision that will keep Jon Venables behind bars. But the relief comes with a painful reminder: the fight may begin all over again in just two years.

The mother of murdered toddler James Bulger has spoken of her overwhelming relief after a parole panel ruled that one of her son’s killers, Jon Venables, must remain in prison.

The decision, announced on Monday, November 9, 2026, followed a three-day parole hearing held privately last month. Venables, now 44, was assessed by the Parole Board, which concluded that he was not suitable for release and continued to pose concerns regarding public safety.

According to the published decision summary, Venables told the panel at the beginning of the hearing that he was not seeking release. He accepted that he needed to complete further offending-related work while in custody.

Although he expressed what professionals described as genuine and sincere remorse for the murder, the panel remained concerned about his continuing sexual preoccupation and the potential risks he could pose if released.

The board specifically highlighted concerns that he could return to viewing indecent images of children or potentially progress to offences involving direct contact with children.

The panel also raised questions about how openly and honestly he would cooperate with probation officers if released into the community.

After considering evidence from prison and community probation officers, three psychologists and a psychiatrist, the panel decided it could not be satisfied that his release would be safe.

A MURDER THAT SHOCKED BRITAIN

James Bulger was just two years old when his life was brutally taken in February 1993.

On February 12, 1993, James was abducted from the New Strand Shopping Centre in Bootle, Merseyside, by two 10-year-old boys, Jon Venables and Robert Thompson.

The little boy was led away from the shopping centre before being subjected to a horrific attack. His body was later discovered on a railway line, having suffered fatal injuries inflicted with bricks and a metal bar.

The case shocked Britain and attracted international attention, not only because of the brutality of the crime but also because of the young ages of the two perpetrators.

Venables and Thompson were convicted of James’s murder and sentenced to life imprisonment.

Both were eventually released on licence in 2001, when they were 18, under new identities and strict conditions intended to protect their anonymity.

However, Venables later returned to prison after repeatedly committing further offences involving indecent images of children.

In February 2010, he was recalled to custody after such images were discovered on his computer. He was released again in August 2013, but was returned to prison in November 2017 after further offending involving child abuse images.

He has remained in custody since that recall.

DENISE FERGUS WANTED THE HEARING TO BE PUBLIC

Before the latest decision, James’s mother, Denise Fergus, had called for the parole hearing to be held in public.

She believed that allowing the public to observe the proceedings would help address misinformation surrounding the case and provide greater transparency about how decisions involving serious offenders are made.

She also hoped that a public hearing would finally make her feel that her family’s concerns had been properly heard.

However, the Parole Board rejected the application, concluding that a public hearing could create serious difficulties for Venables in giving evidence and potentially expose information that could put his safety at risk.

The hearing therefore proceeded privately.

Despite her disappointment over that decision, Denise was able to have her family’s victim personal statement considered by the panel. The statement clearly conveyed the devastating impact of James’s murder and the continuing consequences of Venables’s subsequent offending.

Following the ruling, her spokeswoman, Kym Morris, said Denise’s overwhelming emotion was relief.

The prospect of Venables being released had caused her enormous anxiety, particularly given his history of repeated offending.

The family also stressed that their concerns were not limited to their own experiences. They remain worried about the potential safety of other children and families.

RELIEF TODAY, BUT ANOTHER ORDEAL AHEAD

Although the decision means Venables will remain behind bars, it does not bring an end to the family’s struggle.

He is expected to become eligible for another parole review in approximately two years, meaning Denise may once again have to prepare herself emotionally for another hearing.

Her representatives have called for changes to the parole process for prisoners serving life sentences, particularly in cases where repeated reviews force bereaved families to revisit the most traumatic moments of their lives.

They believe families should receive stronger support, greater protection and more meaningful consideration of the emotional consequences of repeated parole proceedings.

Denise and her supporters also hope to meet Justice Secretary Alex Norris to discuss whether longer intervals between reviews could be introduced where legally possible.

For a mother who has spent more than three decades fighting to keep her son’s memory alive, the latest ruling offers an important moment of reassurance.

But the pain of losing James has never disappeared, and the prospect of facing another parole hearing remains a heavy burden.

For now, Denise Fergus can breathe a little easier, knowing that the man responsible for taking her little boy’s life will not be returning to the community.

Yet her family’s message remains clear: the protection of children and the voices of victims’ families must never be overlooked.