JAMES BULGER’S MUM MAKES A FRESH BID FOR A PUBLIC PAROLE HEARING

More than three decades after the murder of two-year-old James Bulger, his mother Denise Fergus is once again challenging the secrecy surrounding the parole process involving Jon Venables.

Denise and her husband, Stuart Fergus, have formally asked the Parole Board for Venables’ forthcoming hearing to be held in public. The application was published by the Parole Board on 7 August 2026.

 WHY DOES DENISE WANT THE HEARING OPENED?

According to the published application summary, Denise and Stuart argue that there is significant public interest in the case.

They say a public hearing could:

Increase transparency around the parole process

Help the public understand how risk is assessed

Address misinformation surrounding the case

Improve confidence in the justice system

They also argue that Venables’ subsequent offending as an adult makes the case exceptional.

For Denise, however, this is clearly about more than procedure.

It is about being heard.

THE REQUEST HAS NOT YET BEEN APPROVED

This is an important distinction.

The Parole Board has not announced that the hearing will be public.

The application has entered a representations stage, allowing interested parties to respond before a decision is made.

So claims that Venables has already been “forced into public” or that his identity will be revealed should be treated cautiously.

HIS IDENTITY WOULD STILL BE PROTECTED

Even if the hearing is eventually opened, a public hearing would not automatically mean that Venables’ identity becomes public.

Reporting on the application indicates that protective measures could be used, potentially including a screen and technology to disguise his voice.

That means transparency and anonymity could potentially exist at the same time.

 HIS PAROLE HISTORY

Venables was convicted alongside Robert Thompson for the 1993 murder of James Bulger.

He was released on licence in 2001 but was later recalled to prison after child-abuse material was discovered.

He was released again before being recalled for a second time in 2017 following another offence involving indecent images of children.

His previous parole bid was rejected in 2023 after the panel said it was not satisfied that releasing him would be safe for public protection.

 THREE DECADES LATER, THE QUESTIONS CONTINUE

James was only two years old when he was abducted and murdered.

For his mother, every parole review inevitably brings the case back into public attention.

Now she is asking for something different:

Let people see how the decision is actually made.

Not necessarily to expose Venables’ identity.

Not to replace the parole process with public punishment.

But, in the family’s view, to allow greater scrutiny of how risk is assessed and whether release could ever be considered safe.

 WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

The immediate question is whether the Parole Board will grant the request for a public hearing.

The hearing itself is not expected before September 2026.

Until then, the application remains just that — an application.

 A FAMILY IS ASKING FOR TRANSPARENCY.

 THE PAROLE BOARD MUST NOW CONSIDER THE REQUEST.

 VENABLES’ ANONYMITY REMAINS PROTECTED.

 AND JAMES BULGER’S FAMILY CONTINUES TO LIVE WITH THE CONSEQUENCES OF A CASE THAT BEGAN MORE THAN 30 YEARS AGO.

Independent commentary based on publicly available Parole Board and court reporting. The request for a public hearing has not itself been granted, and no claim is made that Venables’ identity will be disclosed.