Fury over parole for James Bulger’s killer

Jon Venables has been granted parole after he was sent back to jail for two years for accessing child pornography.

He had his parole revoked in 2010 and was jailed for two years after admitting downloading and distributing indecent images of children.

James’s mother, Denise Fergus, and father, Ralph Bulger, previously addressed Venables’s parole hearing and pushed for him to remain in prison.

But on Thursday the Parole Board confirmed the decision has been made to release him back into the community.

Mrs Fergus yesterday accused authorities of effectively putting “two fingers up to me” by deciding to release Venables. She told Channel 5 News: “I totally do feel let down but more importantly I feel like I’ve let James down...

“I can feel my blood boiling right now because once again I’ve been walked all over.

“As soon as my back was turned they put two fingers up to me and they’ve carried on with their lives.”

James was abducted, tortured and killed by Venables and Robert Thompson, who were just 10 at the time, in Liverpool in 1993. They were jailed for life but released on licence with new identities in 2001.

James’s father’s solicitor, Robin Makin, said: “Ralph fears that an innocent person may be mistaken for Jon Venables and be injured or even killed. “

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: “The re-release of life-licensed offenders is directed by the independent Parole Board once they are satisfied they can be safely managed in the community.

“Their life licence lasts for the rest of their lives, and they may be recalled to prison at any time for breaching their licence conditions. Additionally, they will be subject to strict controls.”