Court case to decide on Venables’ anonymity

A LEGAL action brought by the father and uncle of James Bulger over the lifelong anonymity granted to killer Jon Venables is due to go-ahead by the end of this year.

Ralph and Jimmy Bulger are challenging a High Court order made in 2001, and a hearing is expected in December.

James’s mother, Denise Fergus, is not involved.

Venables has been living anonymously since his release from a life sentence for the kidnap, torture and murder of two-year-old James in February 1993.

The toddler was killed by Venables and Robert Thompson, both aged 10, after they snatched him from a shopping centre in Bootle in Merseyside.

They were both later granted lifelong anonymity and, following release, have lived under new identities.

Solicitor-advocate Robin Makin, for the Bulgers, has said that the injunction was granted on the basis that Venables was rehabilitated and would not re-offend, but he had since been convicted and sent back to jail after indecent images of children were found on a computer in his possession.

In the latest of a series of rulings dealing with preliminary issues which was held yesterday, judge Sir James Munby said the case would be heard by the new President of the Family Division, Sir Andrew McFarlane.

The hearing, which is due to take place at London’s High Court on or after December 3, is estimated to last two days and will be held in public.