JON VENABLES FACES ANOTHER PAROLE HEARING — MORE THAN 30 YEARS AFTER THE MURDER OF JAMES BULGER

More than three decades after two 10-year-old boys abducted and killed two-year-old James Bulger, one of the men convicted of the crime is once again at the center of a parole battle.

Jon Venables, now 43, is facing another parole hearing, reopening one of the most painful chapters in the history of the British justice system.

The case has also renewed calls from James Bulger’s family for greater transparency over how decisions about Venables’ future are made.

A CRIME THAT SHOCKED BRITAIN

James Bulger was just two years old when he was abducted from a shopping centre in Bootle, Merseyside, on February 12, 1993.

Venables and Robert Thompson, both aged 10 at the time, were later convicted of his murder.

The case became one of the most notorious crimes in modern British history, not least because of the age of the two offenders.

Both boys were eventually released on licence in 2001 under new identities after spending years in secure accommodation.

But Venables’ freedom did not last without further serious legal problems.

TWO RETURNS TO PRISON

Venables was first recalled to custody in 2010 after indecent images of children were found on his computer. He was subsequently convicted of related offences.

He was released again in 2013.

In 2017, however, he was recalled to prison for a second time after another offence involving indecent images of children.

Those repeated recalls have become a major part of the debate surrounding his current parole case.

In 2023, the Parole Board rejected another application for release.

The board concluded at the time that Venables continued to present a risk and could go on to offend again.

Now, more than two years later, his case has returned to the parole system.

JAMES BULGER’S FAMILY WANTS THE HEARING OPEN

James’ mother, Denise Fergus, has continued to campaign against Venables being released.

In 2026, she and other members of the Bulger family sought greater public scrutiny of the parole process.

The Parole Board confirmed in August that it had received applications asking for Venables’ upcoming oral hearing to be held in public.

One application came from Denise and Stuart Fergus.

Another was submitted by legal representatives for James’ father, Ralph Bulger, and James’ brother, Jimmy Bulger.

The applications argue that the case is exceptional because it involves the killing of a child by children, Venables’ later offending, his repeated recalls to custody and the difficult questions surrounding risk management and release.

The Parole Board has invited representations on whether the hearing should be made public.

“ANOTHER PAROLE HEARING”

For James’ family, the latest proceedings are not simply another legal process.

They represent another reminder of the tragedy that happened more than 30 years ago.

Members of Parliament have also acknowledged the emotional impact.

In February 2026, an MP representing the Bulger family’s constituency told Parliament that repeated parole hearings had continued to retraumatize the family.

The Justice Minister acknowledged that parole hearings can be traumatic for victims and their relatives.

THE QUESTION OF RISK

The central issue for the Parole Board is not whether Venables committed the original offence — he was convicted decades ago.

The question is whether he can safely be managed in the community and whether he continues to present a risk to the public.

That assessment is particularly significant because Venables has previously been released and later recalled to prison.

His supporters have argued that the parole process should focus on his current risk and rehabilitation.

James Bulger’s family, meanwhile, has repeatedly argued that his history should not be overlooked.

MORE THAN 30 YEARS LATER

James Bulger was only two years old when his life was taken.

Today, the case remains deeply embedded in Britain’s collective memory.

And for his family, the passage of time has not ended the pain.

Instead, each new parole process brings the possibility of having to confront the same question again:

Could Jon Venables one day be released from prison?

For now, no decision has been announced granting him freedom.

The Parole Board process remains ongoing, while applications concerning whether the hearing should be held publicly are also being considered.