Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Theft at Bulger grave
Fury as cherub statue is taken
THIEVES have targeted the grave of murdered toddler James Bulger.
The little boy’s mum Denise Fergus revealed a sleeping cherub statue has vanished from her son’s resting place.
Her husband Stuart made the sickening discovery when he went to tend to the grave yesterday.
Denise said: “So this morning Stuart went and cleaned James’s resting place and put down some new flowers. He has come back and told me that this sleeping statue has been taken.
“It’s made of concrete and has a bit of weight to it so it hasn’t blown off anywhere. How low do some people have to be to… take from a baby’s grave.”
Two-year-old James was killed by Jon Venables and Robert Thompson, both then 10, in Liverpool in 1993.
The youngster is buried in the city’s Kirkdale Cemetery. His killers were convicted of murder but released in 2001 aged 18. Thompson, now 39, has not re-offended but Venables, also 39 was sent back to jail in 2010 and 2017 after being caught with child abuse pictures. He has applied for parole and could be freed later this year.
A parliamentary debate on whether a public inquiry should be held into James’s murder is due later this year.
Its announcement came days after Denise, 53, met Justice Secretary Dominic Raab. She said: “My family and friends and I are over the moon. I have had 29 years of unanswered questions and this is a truly historic, momentous step towards change.
“There have been too many failings over the years and I just hope this will be the beginning of something that will leave a legacy in the name of James.
“To have all this happen before the 30th anniversary means so much.
“And if this helps make it easier for other families going through the justice system, then I can say I’ve had part justice for James.”
How low.. to take from a baby’s grave
DENISE FERGUS ON THE THEFT FROM CEMETERY