James Bulger's killer 'in bust-up at work'

The 27 year old grappled with a colleague and had to be pulled away - eventually being suspended from his workplace after an official complaint was made and then recalled to prison, the Daily Mirror reported.

He is also alleged to have a history of drug abuse since being released in 2001 on licence after serving eight years for the infamous murder.

The revelations, which the Ministry of Justice refused to comment on, came as calls intensified for the Government to make public details about his recall to custody last week for breaching the terms of his release.

James' mother Denise Fergus - who has not been told why the killer was back behind bars - told the Mirror: "We have a right to know," a call echoed by the murdered toddler's father.

Ralph Bulger, 43, told The Sun: "We are still in the dark about why he has been sent back - it's a disgrace.

"It is one more kick in the teeth for James and his family."

Venables and his friend Robert Thompson were just 10 when they abused and battered two-year-old James to death 17 years ago in Liverpool.

They were both released nine years ago with new identities and given strict rules about how they could behave on the outside.

Among Venables' conditions are that he should not return to Merseyside or contact Thompson.

Yesterday Justice Secretary Jack Straw defended the decision not to reveal details of the breach, saying the secrecy was in the public interest.

"For very good reason we have had to keep restricted details as to why Mr Venables has been recalled," he said.

"I was however very anxious that the victim's family should know that he was being recalled before they found it out from the newspapers.

"There is always a careful balance that has to be maintained. I have no interest at all in withholding information gratuitously or unnecessarily.

"But there are good reasons to withhold this information and that is genuinely in the public interest."

But Home Secretary Alan Johnson appeared to back calls for more information to be released yesterday, saying: "I believe the public do have a right to know and I believe they will know all the facts in due course.

"But I must in no way prejudice the future criminal justice proceedings."

There are fears that Venables' return to custody could lead to his new identity being discovered.

Harry Fletcher, assistant general secretary of Napo, the probation union, said: "(His identity) has stayed confidential over the last nine years because only a handful of people are involved.

"Now he is in prison, the governor has to know, other prisoners "might speculate why he is being treated in a certain way."

The detective who led the investigation into the killing led calls for the public to be told what Venables had done.

Albert Kirby said: "It would help to clarify and put this to rest once and for all if the public did have some indication of what it is he has done.

"Not where he is or details like that, but the reason why his probation has been revoked and he is back inside."

Mark Thomas, editor of the Liverpool Daily Post, who wrote the definitive book about the Bulger case, also backed the public right to know what happened.

"The law fell short of public expectations in allowing them to be released without spending any time in an adult prison," he said.

"The public are now going to be worried and they have a right to know what he has done.

"Denise must be going through terrible torments of uncertainty as to just what has gone on."

Mrs Fergus welcomed the news of Venables' recall as it broke on Tuesday night, writing on her Twitter account that he was "where he belongs tonight - behind bars".

Last night she thanked people for their support since, tweeting: "I've always said that there are more good people then bad in this world and the messages I'm still receiving proves it..thanks to everyone x."

Venables and Thompson snatched James from a shopping centre in Bootle, Merseyside and killed him on a railway line on February 13, 1993.

They were given life sentences for the killing but were controversially released after eight years.

Venables will appear before a Parole Board hearing within 28 days to examine why he was taken back to jail.

A spokesman for the Parole Board said it was likely the result of the hearing would be released because of the high-profile nature of the case.

But the reasons for the recall were unlikely to be made public at this stage, he said.