JON VENABLES FACES A FRESH PAROLE HEARING — AND JAMES BULGER’S FAMILY WANTS THE PUBLIC TO HEAR IT

More than three decades after two-year-old James Bulger was murdered, his family is once again preparing for another parole process involving Jon Venables — and this time they are asking for the hearing to be made public.

Jon Venables is facing another parole hearing, reopening a painful chapter for the family of James Bulger, the two-year-old whose murder shocked Britain in 1993.

Venables and Robert Thompson were both 10 when they abducted James from a shopping centre in Bootle, Merseyside, before the toddler was murdered.

Now, more than 30 years later, Venables remains subject to a lifelong anonymity order and is facing another review of whether he should remain in prison.

JAMES BULGER’S FAMILY SEEKS A PUBLIC HEARING

In August 2026, the Parole Board for England and Wales confirmed it had received an application from Denise and Stuart Fergus, James’s mother and stepfather, asking for the upcoming hearing to be held in public.

A separate application was also submitted by legal representatives for James’s father Ralph Bulger and the Bulger family.

The applications argue that opening the hearing could improve public understanding of the parole process and provide greater transparency.

They also cite the extensive public discussion surrounding the case and argue that greater transparency could help address misinformation.

 WHY THE FAMILY WANTS TRANSPARENCY

According to the Parole Board’s published summary, the family argues that a public hearing would allow people to better understand how risk is assessed and managed when considering parole.

They also say public scrutiny could help victims and their families understand the decision-making process and feel more involved in proceedings.

The application additionally points to Venables’ later offences as an exceptional feature of the case.

The Parole Board has not yet indicated that the hearing will definitely be public. The request itself is still part of the legal process.

VENABLES HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN DENIED PAROLE

Venables was released on licence in 2001 after serving his minimum sentence.

However, he was later recalled to prison in 2010 after indecent images of children were found on his computer.

He was released again in 2013 before being recalled once more in 2017 over another offence involving indecent images of children.

His most recent parole bid, in 2023, was rejected.

The Parole Board said at the time that it was not satisfied his release would be safe for the protection of the public.

 ANOTHER PAINFUL CHAPTER FOR JAMES’S FAMILY

For James’s family, each new parole process brings the case back into public attention.

Denise Fergus has previously spoken about the emotional impact of having to repeatedly confront parole proceedings involving her son’s killer.

The latest application is therefore not simply about the mechanics of parole. It is also about the family’s desire to understand how the decision is reached and to have greater visibility over the process.

 HIS IDENTITY REMAINS PROTECTED

Despite the enormous public interest in the case, Venables continues to be protected by a lifelong anonymity order.

That means details that could identify his current identity or whereabouts should not be published.

The focus of the current proceedings is instead on the parole process and whether a public hearing should take place.

 WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

The Parole Board must consider the applications for a public hearing before the parole proceedings take place.

The eventual parole decision will depend on the evidence presented to the panel and its assessment of the risk posed by release.

For James Bulger’s family, however, another question remains just as important:

Will the public finally be allowed to hear the arguments behind the decision?

More than 30 years after James was taken from his family, the next stage of the Venables parole process is set to reopen one of Britain’s most painful cases.