I carry a pen and paper all the time... What I write could keep Venables behind bars
DENISE BID TO HALT SON’S KILLER
TRAGIC James Bulger’s mum has told of her agonising deadline to produce a vital victim impact statement which she prays will prevent her jailed son’s killer walking free.
The Sunday People can today reveal Jon Venables – one of two boys who abducted, tortured and murdered the twoyear-old 29 years ago – is to have a parole board hearing, set to be in August.
But mum Denise Fergus has just two weeks to write a crucial submission which must be handed in by May 16.
She makes constant notes in a pad to help carefully craft her testimony and said: “I know what I write could keep James’ killer behind bars.”
Denise, 53, also pleaded with Justice Secretary Dominic Raab for an urgent meeting to discuss keeping Venables, 39, locked up – and for a public inquiry into her son’s death.
Mr Raab has announced plans for new laws to let ministers intervene in dangerous convicts’ parole hearings.
Denise said: “He [Venables] is one of the biggest dangers to society and will offend again. The law needs passing now. If this legislation was made for anyone, it was made for him.
Fear
“Putting it in place next year will be too late and he could be out on the streets. My biggest fear is that Venables will put another family through what we’ve been through.
“There is no doubt in my mind he is still capable of evil.”
This week it was revealed that a public inquiry into James’s death – something Denise started a petition for and gained 214,000 signatures – will be debated in Parliament.
But in an exclusive interview, she said she has been left in the dark about the Commons discussion and has never had any contact from any cabinet minister about an inquiry.
Her son’s savage death in February 1993 at the hands of Venables and Robert Thompson shocked the nation.
The twisted 10-year-old truants snatched James from a shopping centre in Bootle, Merseyside, after his mum let go of his hand for seconds.
The pair dragged him two-and-a-half miles to a railway line where they tortured and battered him to death.
Both were convicted of murder in November 1993 and ordered to be detained indefinitely but were released aged 18 in 2001 with new identities.
Thompson, now 39, has not reoffended but Venables was sent back to prison in 2010 and 2017 after being caught with child sex abuse images on his computer.
He was turned down for parole in 2020 but has now made a new bid for freedom – which means Denise and James’ dad Ralph have to submit a heartfelt victim impact statements outlining why he should not be released.
Denise, who lives with husband Stuart, said: “I’ve got a very happy life now, I’m very lucky, but news of the parole board hearing brings the same feelings back.
“It takes me back to a dark place. It kicks it all off again. I can’t get away from it.
“But what keeps me going is getting justice for James and keeping one of his killers behind bars. I feel like I’ve been fighting for that more years than I’ve lived, that’s how much I’ve given. I chose to take on the fight. I did that for James because he’s not here to do that. I didn’t want to let him down.
“My solicitor said to me, ‘You take this on board and you’re in for a long hard battle’. I just thought, ‘Bring it on’. I still feel that now.”
Stronger
Denise keeps a pen and paper handy so she can note down any important details that might help her latest testimony against Venables.
She said: “This is the third or fourth time I’ve done one against him. It takes it out of you. The first thing that crosses my mind is that I shouldn’t be doing this. I should be celebrating birthdays and Christmases happily, not writing about him. I’m a lot stronger than I was doing this 20 years ago.
“I’m fighting for my son. I’m hoping and praying every time that what I saw makes a difference.
“With the statement, I like to get it done early so I can add things. It will be about my life and my worries and restrictions that should be in place.
“I will not show an inch of weakness. He needs to know he’s lost big time and that he’ll never win anything.
“When I’m preparing it, my mind works overtime. I start jotting down things down and it takes time.
“I like it to be spot on. I carry paper and pen all the time. I make lots of little notes and then put it into the statement. It can take a few weeks to get together
but if it is going to get justice for James and keep his killer behind bars then I’m happy to do it.”
Denise is adamant in her belief that Venables still poses a great danger to society.
Scary
She said: “I fear for every family out there if he gets released. I try not to think too much about it because I have no idea which way it will go. I hope to God he doesn’t get out but if he does it’s something I will have to face. It’s scary.
“I won’t know where he is moved to, his new identity name, or anything like that.
“He will know lots about us but we’ll know nothing about him. We’re the victims. Is this right? He’s still capable of doing what he did to James in my mind.
“Like any person that re-offends in my mind, two strikes and you should be in for a long time. There is no way he is rehabilitated.”
Denise and her family were offered a glimmer of hope when Dominic Raab announced in March that he proposed to take back powers so ministers could block dangerous criminals being freed. It came after double child killer Colin Pitchfork, London taxi driver rapist John Worboys and murdered Baby P’s mother Tracey Connelly were all initially paroled.
But no date has been set for the new law, meaning Venables will be out before it is enforced.
Denise said she also wants to discuss with Mr Raab the inquiry she called for five years ago which is now to be debated in the Commons.
Denise said: “I’ve heard nothing from anyone. I feel that’s insulting if they are going to debate it and they haven’t informed me. That is why I’m calling on Dominic Raab to sit down with me.”
As Denise waits, she admits she is very happy with life with her new granddaughter Peyton, two, and sons Thomas, Leon and Michael.
But she always tried to make sure the memory of James lives on.
Denise, who set up the James Bulger Memorial Trust, said: “I’ve got three beautiful lads and a granddaughter.
“But the day I stop talking about him is the day I won’t be here.”
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I fear for every family out there if he gets
released