I’m here to say I’ll never stop fighting for James
– BULGER’S MUM DENISE SENDS POWERFUL MESSAGE TO MPS
THE mum of murdered toddler James Bulger pleaded with MPs to stand with her as she vowed to “never stop fighting” for justice.
Denise Fergus said there are still so many unanswered questions that haunt her about his death and demanded past mistakes are not repeated.
Her plea came as she attended a debate in Parliament on whether there should be a public inquiry.
She has criticised how the authorities dealt with the murder of James, two, who was killed by then 10-yearolds Robert Thompson and Jon Venables in February 1993.
She wants an inquiry to look at what officials knew when they released the pair from jail in 2001.
In a statement read by Labour MP Jess Phillips, Denise said: “I am the mother whose heart has been shattered and whose life has been forever dark after the loss of my dear son, James.
“For over 30 years, I have carried the unbearable weight of his absence, a void that can never be filled, a pain that never subsides... I am here to say I will never stop fighting for James. He cannot stand up for himself. So it is my duty as his mother to be his voice.”
Denise begged MPs to “stand with me to ensure that the mistakes of the past are not repeated”, adding: “No parent should endure what I have.
“A loss of a child is an unspeakable tragedy. There are so many unanswered questions that haunt me. Why were critical aspects overlooked? Why did it seem as though the most damning evidence [was] swept aside?”
MPs questioned why evidence gathered by police that Thompson and Venables had sexually assaulted James before killing him was not presented during the trial or to the Parole Board when Venables was released in 2001 and in 2013. Venables reoffended twice over child abuse images and Denise has campaigned to keep him in jail.
Last year the Parole Board ruled him unfit to be released but concerns have been raised about why the decision was made to release him in the first place.
Alex Cunningham, Shadow Minister for Courts, said it was “impossible” to come close to imagining “the pain, suffering and trauma” James’s family have had to go through.
He added: “We have long been concerned on this side of the house about the gaps in our criminal justice system which means that dangerous offenders are being released. This poses a huge risk to public safety and undermines faith in our justice system.”
Justice Minister Edward Argar paid tribute to Ms Fergus and her family’s “tireless and dignified campaign to obtain justice for James”. But he added: “I’m afraid I’m not in a position today to announce a public inquiry.”
Mr Argar also confirmed Venable’s sexual interest in young children was not logged on his files until after he was recalled to prison in 2010.
Later Denise added: “We are disappointed that the Minister deemed that a public inquiry would not be possible.
“We still believe it is still essential to establish James’ truth.”
James was abducted from a shopping centre in Bootle, Merseyside. His body was found two miles away on a railway line in Walton, Liverpool.
The killers served eight years in a young offender institute before being released on licence in 2001.
We’re worried about gaps that mean dangerous offenders are being released
ALEX CUNNINGHAM SHADOW COURTS MINISTER