“I CAN BREATHE EASIER NOW” — JAMES BULGER’S FATHER REACTS AFTER HIS SON’S KILLER IS DENIED PAROLE

More than three decades after the murder of his two-year-old son, Ralph Bulger says he has finally been given a moment of relief.

Jon Venables, one of the two men convicted of killing little James Bulger in 1993, has been refused parole following a three-day review. The decision means the 44-year-old will remain behind bars, despite another attempt to have his case considered for release.

For Ralph, the outcome brings some reassurance — but it does not end the emotional ordeal his family has endured for years.

“I can breathe easier now I know he will not be free to harm other children,” Ralph said, describing his relief after the Parole Board’s decision.

However, he also expressed frustration that Venables could become eligible for another parole review in approximately two years.

A FATHER’S FEAR THAT NEVER WENT AWAY

Ralph, 60, and James’s mother, Denise Fergus, 59, were not allowed to attend the latest private parole review.

Speaking to The Sun, Ralph welcomed the decision to keep Venables in prison. But he made clear that the possibility of another release hearing would continue to weigh heavily on the family.

He questioned why the process must repeatedly reopen wounds that have never truly healed.

For James’s parents, every new parole review brings back the unimaginable loss of their little boy and the fear that one of the people responsible could eventually walk free.

THE MURDER THAT SHOCKED BRITAIN

On February 12, 1993, two-year-old James was abducted from the New Strand Shopping Centre in Bootle, Merseyside.

The two boys responsible were Jon Venables and Robert Thompson, both just 10 years old at the time.

They led James away from the shopping center before subjecting him to a brutal attack. His body was later discovered on a railway line.

The crime shocked the United Kingdom and became one of the most notorious child murder cases in the country’s history.

Venables and Thompson were convicted of James’s murder and later released on licence in 2001, after serving eight years in custody.

WHY VENABLES WILL REMAIN IN PRISON

Venables was recalled to prison in 2010 after indecent images of children were found on his computer. He was released again in 2013 but returned to prison in November 2017 following further offending involving child abuse images.

He later pleaded guilty to offences involving the making of indecent images of children and possession of a prohibited manual.

During the latest parole review, Venables reportedly told officials that he was not seeking release and accepted that he needed further work in custody.

The Parole Board nevertheless concluded that he was not suitable for release.

According to the published decision summary, the panel remained concerned about his sexual preoccupation, the possibility of further offending and whether he could be sufficiently open and honest with probation staff if released.

The panel also identified a potential risk of serious harm to children.

JAMES’S MOTHER WELCOMES THE DECISION — BUT FEARS ANOTHER REVIEW

Denise Fergus also expressed overwhelming relief after learning that Venables would remain in prison.

Her spokeswoman said the possibility of his release had caused Denise enormous anxiety, adding that her concerns extended beyond her own family to the safety of other children.

But the family knows this may not be the end of the process.

Another parole review could take place in around two years, meaning James’s parents may once again have to prepare themselves for a painful and emotionally exhausting experience.

For Ralph and Denise, the latest decision offers temporary reassurance — not closure.

James was only two years old when his life was taken. More than 33 years later, his parents are still fighting to protect his memory and ensure that the tragedy that changed their lives is never forgotten.