“THIS IS MY DEEPEST FE-AR” — James Bulger’s Mum Breaks Silence on Facing Her Son’s K-i-l-l-er as Trau:ma Resurfaces

James Bulger’s mum Denise Fergus shared her ‘anger’ and ‘distress’ as one of her son’s killers, Jon Venables, was granted a new parole bid

James Bulger was killed in 1993(Image: PA)

The mother of killed toddler James Bulger revealed what she fears the most as her son’s murderer Jon Venables is granted a parole hearing.

Evil Venables was just 10 years old when he and Robert Thompson, also 10, took toddler James from a shopping centre in Bootle, Merseyside, in February 1993. The 10-year-olds horrifically tortured and murdered the little boy in a crime that shocked the nation. Venables was initially freed from prison in 2001 but was recalled in 2010 and 2017 after he was found in possession of child abuse images. The murderer has been granted another shot at freedom from prison after he was denied parole in 2023.

Heartbroken mum Denise Fergus, 57, told The Mirror what she frightens her as she faces her boy’s killer.

Denise said the potential release was ‘distressing’(Image: CHRIS NEILL)

The Mirror revealed the murderer was granted a fresh parole bid on Monday, which is expected to take place next month. This means he could be out of jail by the end of the year if his request is accepted.

Denise revealed she has been granted access to the hearing, which would be the first of Venables’ parole hearings she has attended. The devastated mum will not be able to see the killers’ face, as his new identity will be protected, but she will hear his voice for the first time in three decades – through a video link in a separate room.

Jon Venables has been granted a parole meeting(Image: PA)

Sharing her deepest fear about the potential release, grieving Denise told The Mirror: “Until I’m in the room I don’t know how I’ll react, whether fury will rise in me at the sound of him, because it’s the first hearing I’ve ever attended. I expect I’ll have to sit on my hands and keep my mouth shut or I’ll get kicked out of the room.”

Denise was told by parole officers that they deemed it fair for Venables to have an oral hearing after receiving written submissions from prison workers, counsellors, psychiatrists and impact statements from members of James’ family, including Denise.

The grieving mum said: “I have learned to prepare for the worst over the past 30 years or so but when the news came it was still upsetting. It’s galling they’ve given him another parole hearing after he decided not to turn up to the last one in 2023. It means weeks of purgatory now. We now need to wait and on hearing the news my first thought was of how I ready myself for being at the hearing and the importance of letting my son’s killer know that I’m listening in.”