Government spends £13,000 on protecting Bulger killers' identities

Publisher: Ian Morgan
Published: 08/04/2007 - 12:31:42 PM

http://www.24dash.com/_images/news/19034/m_James_Bulger.jpg
Little James Bulger.

The Government has spent £13,000 of taxpayers' money preventing overseas magazines revealing the new identities of the James Bulger murderers, it was revealed today.

Home Office figures - disclosed under the Freedom of Information Act - showed the sum went on legal fees, VAT and other costs.

Strict guidelines restricting media coverage of Robert Thompson and Jon Venables, now both 24, were imposed by the High Court in January 2001 to protect them from revenge attacks.

They were granted an open-ended High Court injunction protecting their anonymity.

Former Family Division President Dame Elizabeth Butler-Sloss said in the High Court that the two had to be protected due to a "real possibility of serious physical harm and possible death from vengeful members of the public or from the Bulger family".

A Home Office spokeswoman said the spending related to obtaining a specific injunction against a foreign title.

"There are always certain legal costs associated with an injunction from the courts," she said.

"Costs in this particular case are not out of the ordinary.

"An injunction was obtained in this case to prevent publication of information that would lead to the whereabouts of the two offenders, as there was strong and credible evidence of a threat to their lives."

The pair were aged 10 when they abducted two-year-old James Bulger from outside a butcher's in the Strand shopping precinct in Bootle, Merseyside, in 1993.

They walked him more than a mile to a railway line and killed him.

Blue paint was thrown in the toddler's eye - at this point he was still able to beg the older boys not to hurt him, Venables said.

James's socks, shoes, trousers and underpants were removed, he was hit in the face and kicked in the groin.

A brick was thrown into the little boy's face, and further bricks were thrown at him.

He was beaten around the head with a metal bar and a branch.

James's body had 22 lacerations and his skull was fractured in 10 places.

There was a patterned bruise on his right cheek caused from a blow from a shoe.

His broken body was left on a railway line, and when his remains were found two days later it had been cut in half by a passing train.

The act was described by the trial judge, Mr Justice Morland, as "an act of unparalleled evil and barbarity".

In 2001, the Parole Board ruled that Thompson and Venables were no longer a danger to the public after they had spent eight years in secure accommodation.

The legal bar on identifying them applies in the UK but it would not necessarily apply to foreign magazines which attempted to track down the murderers and identify them in their new lives.

Venables and Thompson have new names known only to a small circle of officials.

Copyright Press Association 2007

Source: 24dash.com (http://www.24dash.com/centralgovernment/19034.htm)

Government spends £13,000 on protecting Bulger killers' identities

Publisher: Ian Morgan
Published: 08/04/2007 - 12:31:42 PM

http://www.24dash.com/_images/news/19034/m_James_Bulger.jpg
Little James Bulger.

The Government has spent £13,000 of taxpayers' money preventing overseas magazines revealing the new identities of the James Bulger murderers, it was revealed today.

Home Office figures - disclosed under the Freedom of Information Act - showed the sum went on legal fees, VAT and other costs.

Strict guidelines restricting media coverage of Robert Thompson and Jon Venables, now both 24, were imposed by the High Court in January 2001 to protect them from revenge attacks.

They were granted an open-ended High Court injunction protecting their anonymity.

Former Family Division President Dame Elizabeth Butler-Sloss said in the High Court that the two had to be protected due to a "real possibility of serious physical harm and possible death from vengeful members of the public or from the Bulger family".

A Home Office spokeswoman said the spending related to obtaining a specific injunction against a foreign title.

"There are always certain legal costs associated with an injunction from the courts," she said.

"Costs in this particular case are not out of the ordinary.

"An injunction was obtained in this case to prevent publication of information that would lead to the whereabouts of the two offenders, as there was strong and credible evidence of a threat to their lives."

The pair were aged 10 when they abducted two-year-old James Bulger from outside a butcher's in the Strand shopping precinct in Bootle, Merseyside, in 1993.

They walked him more than a mile to a railway line and killed him.

Blue paint was thrown in the toddler's eye - at this point he was still able to beg the older boys not to hurt him, Venables said.

James's socks, shoes, trousers and underpants were removed, he was hit in the face and kicked in the groin.

A brick was thrown into the little boy's face, and further bricks were thrown at him.

He was beaten around the head with a metal bar and a branch.

James's body had 22 lacerations and his skull was fractured in 10 places.

There was a patterned bruise on his right cheek caused from a blow from a shoe.

His broken body was left on a railway line, and when his remains were found two days later it had been cut in half by a passing train.

The act was described by the trial judge, Mr Justice Morland, as "an act of unparalleled evil and barbarity".

In 2001, the Parole Board ruled that Thompson and Venables were no longer a danger to the public after they had spent eight years in secure accommodation.

The legal bar on identifying them applies in the UK but it would not necessarily apply to foreign magazines which attempted to track down the murderers and identify them in their new lives.

Venables and Thompson have new names known only to a small circle of officials.

Copyright Press Association 2007

Source: 24dash.com (http://www.24dash.com/centralgovernment/19034.htm)


Sickening crime. But they will get lynched if it gets out where they are. But also must be addressed is people they get involved with. Girlfriends and workmates for example. I don't know if its true but i heard ones now a parent.

I don't understand why they're walking the streets, poor little Jamie isn't walking the streets!

I don't understand why they're walking the streets, poor little Jamie isn't walking the streets!

There are thousands of child killers walking the streets. Its time that the justice system reviewed what sentences should be given to what crimes.

There are thousands of child killers walking the streets. Its time that the justice system reviewed what sentences should be given to what crimes.
Platitudes are cheap. What sentences do you suggest for child killers?

Platitudes are cheap. What sentences do you suggest for child killers?


Life meaning life or hanging would be a good option. Though with Britain not having the death penalty, life would be more reachable option.

Ahh,every time i see James' photo,i get so upset........
What i would like to do with these two vile losers............:disgust:
R.I.P. James
Jacky xxx

Has anyone read the book, As If by Blake Morrison? It's an interesting exploration of the case and how we respond to children who kill children.

I hope that Venables and Thompson can go on to lead good, decent lives. The odds are stacked against them both in terms of how it might be possible to recover from the knowledge of what they did and what this makes them, and living a life in constant fear of exposure with all that may bring. I am in favour of them retaining their anonymity for as long as possible. Hopefully forever.

In no way do I discount the ongoing suffering of James' parents and all who were touched by him, and just thinking about the terror he must have experienced is unbearable.

However, in my mind there is a clear difference between the harm a child does to another child and the harm an adult does to a child. Thompson and Venables were children when they committed their heinous acts. I think it's important to remember that when we well up with hate and disgust towards them and almost wish upon them the pain they inflicted upon James.

Has anyone read the book, As If by Blake Morrison? It's an interesting exploration of the case and how we respond to children who kill children.

I hope that Venables and Thompson can go on to lead good, decent lives. The odds are stacked against them both in terms of how it might be possible to recover from the knowledge of what they did and what this makes them, and living a life in constant fear of exposure with all that may bring. I am in favour of them retaining their anonymity for as long as possible. Hopefully forever.

In no way do I discount the ongoing suffering of James' parents and all who were touched by him, and just thinking about the terror he must have experienced is unbearable.

However, in my mind there is a clear difference between the harm a child does to another child and the harm an adult does to a child. Thompson and Venables were children when they committed their heinous acts. I think it's important to remember that when we well up with hate and disgust towards them and almost wish upon them the pain they inflicted upon James.

Very well said, Jericho.

Normally, I don't like to comment on the Bulger case, because the feelings of people (mine included) are so raw.
However, I wonder at the motives of the person who wrote the article which heads this thread.

Has anyone read the book, As If by Blake Morrison? It's an interesting exploration of the case and how we respond to children who kill children.

I hope that Venables and Thompson can go on to lead good, decent lives. The odds are stacked against them both in terms of how it might be possible to recover from the knowledge of what they did and what this makes them, and living a life in constant fear of exposure with all that may bring. I am in favour of them retaining their anonymity for as long as possible. Hopefully forever.

In no way do I discount the ongoing suffering of James' parents and all who were touched by him, and just thinking about the terror he must have experienced is unbearable.

However, in my mind there is a clear difference between the harm a child does to another child and the harm an adult does to a child. Thompson and Venables were children when they committed their heinous acts. I think it's important to remember that when we well up with hate and disgust towards them and almost wish upon them the pain they inflicted upon James.

Great post - well said

Just after that poor little kid got murdered. I went into W. H Smith's to get some vouchers for Christamas pressies for my family.

There was a long queue of both men and women.

A 3-4 yr old wandered past us, crying his eyes out. Obviously lost/separated from his mum.

All the fellers in the queue looked at each other ( Many obviously dads like myself)

The normal reaction at that time would be to go to the little feller and try to get him back with his mum.

Sad,,, we all looked at each other and nobody made a move.

I felt such a coward.

A security worker picked the child up and soon he was re-united with his mum over the intercom.


Sheepishness ? Came over the fellers in the queue.

It's something I will never forget.

Has anyone read the book, As If by Blake Morrison? It's an interesting exploration of the case and how we respond to children who kill children.

I hope that Venables and Thompson can go on to lead good, decent lives. The odds are stacked against them both in terms of how it might be possible to recover from the knowledge of what they did and what this makes them, and living a life in constant fear of exposure with all that may bring. I am in favour of them retaining their anonymity for as long as possible. Hopefully forever.

In no way do I discount the ongoing suffering of James' parents and all who were touched by him, and just thinking about the terror he must have experienced is unbearable.

However, in my mind there is a clear difference between the harm a child does to another child and the harm an adult does to a child. Thompson and Venables were children when they committed their heinous acts. I think it's important to remember that when we well up with hate and disgust towards them and almost wish upon them the pain they inflicted upon James.

I have As If by James Morrison although I don't think I finished it. After I ordered the book and began to read it, I remembered I had read an excerpt of the book in The New Yorker and was put off by the writer's demonizing of Liverpool as the sort of place where such violence could be done to children, the people of the city like troglodytes in gloom.

The crime of Thompson and Venables might have been done when they were children, however, as I understand it, Venables was the leader of the two and showed no remorse at what he had done. The thing is that serial killers grow up very quickly torturing and killing animals and other children. Is it possible that Venables, if he is able to, will kill again? I am not sure he deserves our pity or compassion any more than the Yorkshire Ripper, Peter Sutcliffe, or other killers do. If he can be rehabilitated and lead a useful life that involves no harm to others, all well and good, but I have my doubts.

Chris

Ahh,every time i see James' photo,i get so upset........
What i would like to do with these two vile losers............:disgust:
R.I.P. James
Jacky xxx And this from the "Gentler sex". However, I too get upset when I see children murdered but, not just by local criminals. It upsets me when a politician makes a decisions to wage war and bomb populated cities because they covet another countries mineral wealth killing thousands of innocent children in the process. It is my opinion that Blair and Bush are far greater criminals than the two children who murdered another child. What I would like to do to these two vile war criminals.........:disgust:

However, in my mind there is a clear difference between the harm a child does to another child and the harm an adult does to a child. Thompson and Venables were children when they committed their heinous acts. I think it's important to remember that when we well up with hate and disgust towards them and almost wish upon them the pain they inflicted upon James. Thanks Jeri.

Disregard me if you will. I was just trying to express my feelings as a dad.

Many others experienced the same feelings but felt powerless.

And this from the "Gentler sex". However, I too get upset when I see children murdered but, not just by local criminals. It upsets me when a politician make a decisions to wage war and bomb populated cities because they covet another countries mineral wealth killing thousands of innocent children in the process. It is my opinion that Blair and Bush are far greater criminals than the two children who murdered another child. What I would like to do to these two vile war criminals.........:disgust:

Well said Sloyne.

Hi Steven,:)
Yes i Know where you are coming from, People did stop and think twice,before that,someone would have taken the child to customer service in order to find thier Mum/Dad.
Jacky:)

Hi Steven and Lady,

One of the chilling points Blake Morrison makes in his book is the number of times an adult noticed James' distress as he was led away by the two boys and did nothing to bring it to an end.

I was referring to child killers in general when i said they should hang, people like Ian Brady and Ian Huntley come to mind.

Because Venables and Thompson were 10 years old when they commited this atrocious crime stops me short of thinking they should face the hangmans noose. But what you have to look at is how could a 10 year old child even contemplate doing what these 2 kids, or it may have been 1 more so than the other, did to that poor toddler. If they were doing things like that at 10 years old, what were they going to become as adults if they were not in Her Majs care?

I do agree with one statement someone said to me years ago when it first hit the media, theres adults who have done far more worse that don't get exposure on this level. But regardless, this is a harrowing crime nonetheless.

Hi Steven and Lady,

One of the chilling points Blake Morrison makes in his book is the number of times an adult noticed James' distress as he was led away by the two boys and did nothing to bring it to an end.

Chilling yes but how many times have we seen a child in distress with elder brothers or sisters, or just with their parents, . . . these can be normal, even usual circumstances in childhood, and the extreme circumstances of what was actually happening could not have been suspected.

Chris

Yes Jeri,
I did see it,
As i say,I can see where Steven is coming from,and at the time-many dads felt the same,my husband included !!!
Jacky:)

I have As If by James Morrison although I don't think I finished it. After I ordered the book and began to read it, I remembered I had read an excerpt of the book in The New Yorker and was put off by the writer's demonizing of Liverpool as the sort of place where such violence could be done to children, the people of the city like troglodytes in gloom.

The crime of Thompson and Venables might have been done when they were children, however, as I understand it, Venables was the leader of the two and showed no remorse at what he had done. The thing is that serial killers grow up very quickly torturing and killing animals and other children. Is it possible that Venables, if he is able to, will kill again? I am not sure he deserves our pity or compassion any more than the Yorkshire Ripper, Peter Sutcliffe, or other killers do. If he can be rehabilitated and lead a useful life that involves no harm to others, all well and good, but I have my doubts.

Chris

Morrison's book was written in the 1980s, Liverpool's nadir. I agree to some extent with what you write about his attitude towards Liverpool but I also give him some credit for being aware of it. Judge for yourself:

‘I sit on a bench in Bootle Strand shopping centre, notebook in hand. There’s a pain in my guts and I’m hyper, trembly. I’ve heard so much about the place it’s become a kind of Babylon for me, a twin towned Gomorrah, a ninth circle of hell… I can feel the place is friendly, cheerful, not a soulless out-of-town drive-in but a bazaar on the high street, with a whiff of the corner shop, a place to stop and talk.’

‘Are things worse in Liverpool than the rest of Britain? The city has had its share of troubles recently – Hysel, Hillsborough, Toxteth, Derek Hatton, a corrupt City Council – and of hostile reporting from London-based foreigners like me. The Daily Mirror, 1982: ‘They should build a fence around Liverpool and charge admission. For sadly it has become a ‘showcase’ of everything that has gone wrong in Britain’s major cities… The city suffers the same economic and social deprivation as other parts of the post-industrial north, but suffers them worse. It must have an effect. Yet I don’t exactly blame Liverpool for the killing of James Bulger. Nor does Ralph Bulge, who thinks it a “great place, full of warm people.” What happened there might have happened anywhere. There are streets near me in London no less a Slough of Despond. And were a child to be abducted there, it’s even less likely someone would notice and intervene.’]

I'm a bit disturbed by the easy condemnation in the second part of your post.

How do you know that Venables has not shown any remorse? (I know the papers keep saying that he hasn't). As far as I'm aware nothing official has been disclosed. My assumption is that if there were any concerns about his risk he would have been sectioned and detained until an appropriate time in the future.

Personally, I don't have a great deal of faith in the predictive powers of forensic psychology hinted at in your statement about serial killers and violence towards animals as being reliably predictive. There are too many serial killers who love their pets and Hitler was a vegetarian.

I certainly don't see any point of comparison between Sutcliffe (a mature adult who planned his crimes and gained sexual satisfaction from them) and what two children did to a toddler. Unless you are making a point about people being born bad. I think that's too easy. Anyway, I don't believe it.

Right from the start Thompson was demonised as being typical of the type of Liverpudlian devilseed that the Daily Mirror wanted to protect the nation from in the 80s. In comparison with Thompson, according to Morrison anyway, Venable's family were almost respectable. He was Paul McCartney to Thompson's 'bad boy Lennon. As far as I'm aware Thompson was typical of lads from Walton who used their fists more adeptly than they used words. Again, it's almost as though we need someone who is really to blame, someone who led the 'good boy' astray, someone of whom we can say, "Yeah, thought so!" Life is not that straightforward.

I don't know what the future holds for either young man. I can't say I am optimistic.

Sickening crime. But they will get lynched if it gets out where they are. But also must be addressed is people they get involved with. Girlfriends and workmates for example. I don't know if its true but i heard ones now a parent.

One of them is now a parent, and obviously social services are very concerned for the childs welfare. But they cant intervene as that would mean divulging his identity to the mother.

I'm really sat on the fence with this one. On the one hand its wrong to see so much is being spent on proteting their identities and re-habilitating them when you see how little is spent on victims of crime. On the other hand I dont see why others not even connected to the case should be able to take the law into their own hands and dish out their own form of justice. I wouldnt be averse to Jame's mum or dad being put in a room with them however.

Very well said, Jericho.

Normally, I don't like to comment on the Bulger case, because the feelings of people (mine included) are so raw.
However, I wonder at the motives of the person who wrote the article which heads this thread.

Like you Philip, I hardly ever comment on this case because, as you say it is so raw.

I remember reading that they had dragged little Jamie all the way from the Bootle Strand, up and over to Breeze Hill and across the old resevoir. A witness who saw them stated that the child looked tired and was being dragged along.

It's a sickening thought of how that little boy must have suffered - his little legs so tired. I can't bare to think of it. They made him walk all that way from the Strand to the railway by Cherry lane - a hell of a distance for a child of that age. :disgust: :disgust:
I can never get that image out of my head when I go past that way. I can never see that resevoir without thinking of Jamie Bulger.

I wouldnt be averse to Jame's mum or dad being put in a room with them however. I think the Cubans come very close to what you are advocating without the brutality implied in your idea. The system on that Caribbean island, in child homicide and molestation cases, allows for relatives to have a say in the punishment meted out to the criminal. It is therefor surprising to learn that only a very small minority of victims families advocate execution. This fact alone says a lot, to me, of the people of Cuba.

Canada has a system whereas, after a conviction has been recorded, the victims are allowed to submit an "impact statement" to the court. This "statement" is, IMHO, usually ignored by the learned judges when passing sentence on the criminal.

I think perhaps a similar thing would happen in this country. I'm not convinced a majority would ask for the murderer to be executed.

Personally I would request for them to be sent for life to a Siberian labour camp.

Personally I would request for them to be sent for life to a Siberian labour camp. My preference would be to send them to Manchester, for life. Imagine a Scouser sentenced to spend the rest of his days in a land-locked hole like Manchester? Or would that be to severe a sentence?:)

10 years of age is well old enough to know right from wrong...
They're just a pair of evil bas***s.
RIP JB

My preference would be to send them to Manchester, for life. Imagine a Scouser sentenced to spend the rest of his days in a land-locked hole like Manchester? Or would that be to severe a sentence?:)


Reading between the lines of newspaper reports that may not be a million miles away from what actually happened. There was outrage that one of them was taken to a game at Old Trafford as part of their rehabilitation.

Very sad indeed, and to my mind they should never have been released
If anyone want's to read about the case try this link


http://www.crimelibrary.com/classics3/bulger/

I found this article helpful in setting out the issues without sensationalising them:

http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/322/7278/61

One of them is now a parent, and obviously social services are very concerned for the childs welfare. But they cant intervene as that would mean divulging his identity to the mother.
.

This is the bit that worries me.
His partner does not know his past niether does the child.
What will happen psychologically to these two people when the truth comes out? as it no doubt will at some time. Nothing in this country is secret for long as we all know.
Another two or more lives ruined. And the politicians, judges and care workers will all say 'It was not our fault'

Phredd

I don't know how much truth there is in this story about one of them being a parent but under the Childrens Act the welfare of the child comes first. Social services have a duty of disclosure. The team monitoring him would be unlikely to hesitate to inform the mother if they had any concerns - especially in such a high profile case where the costs of getting it wrong would make everybody keenly aware of all the risk issues and thus extra vigilant.

I found this article helpful in setting out the issues without sensationalising them:

http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/322/7278/61


very interesting, but a load of rubbish by do gooders. BMJ would that be the
British Medical Journal ?, if so I suspect that it was trick cyclists and the likes
who wrote the artical. It says that the sentence was excessive, and that
the home secretary at the time was persuaded to increase them, and that when the 2 were 18 they were to goto an adult prison.
I know that this was in 1993, but due to the severity of the crime, Venables
and Thomson should never have been released, mind you if the other prisoners found out who they were and what they did, they would never have
come out alive.

I went to school with the brother of one of those boys.There was no surprise when we found out one of his family was capable of this.

Someone I worked with at the time lived near the two youths. He knew exactly who was responsible when it became clear two boys from the Walton area were being hunted.

Someone I worked with at the time lived near the two youths. He knew exactly who was responsible when it became clear two boys from the Walton area were being hunted.

Yes and Susan Venables worked on the check outs at Asda

I went to school with the brother of one of those boys.There was no surprise when we found out one of his family was capable of this.

More than one person has said something similar to this. Of course we should'nt go by hearsay before someones brings that up.

Platitudes are cheap. What sentences do you suggest for child killers?

Life means life, you take one away you lose yours. I vividly remember little James Bulgers murder. At the time I lived not far from where he was found, everyone including myself was devestated at what happened to that poor little boy. I think hanging would be to good for the likes of Venebles and Thomson, Should have threw them in a room with a gang of mums, that would have sorted them out. To many do gooders in this world.

very interesting, but a load of rubbish by do gooders. BMJ would that be the
British Medical Journal ?, if so I suspect that it was trick cyclists and the likes
who wrote the artical. It says that the sentence was excessive, and that
the home secretary at the time was persuaded to increase them, and that when the 2 were 18 they were to goto an adult prison.
I know that this was in 1993, but due to the severity of the crime, Venables
and Thomson should never have been released, mind you if the other prisoners found out who they were and what they did, they would never have
come out alive.

I strongly agree

I have As If by James Morrison although I don't think I finished it. After I ordered the book and began to read it, I remembered I had read an excerpt of the book in The New Yorker and was put off by the writer's demonizing of Liverpool as the sort of place where such violence could be done to children, the people of the city like troglodytes in gloom.

The crime of Thompson and Venables might have been done when they were children, however, as I understand it, Venables was the leader of the two and showed no remorse at what he had done. The thing is that serial killers grow up very quickly torturing and killing animals and other children. Is it possible that Venables, if he is able to, will kill again? I am not sure he deserves our pity or compassion any more than the Yorkshire Ripper, Peter Sutcliffe, or other killers do. If he can be rehabilitated and lead a useful life that involves no harm to others, all well and good, but I have my doubts.

Chris
I agree with you, well said, I dont belive these killers will be able to live normal lives.

I'd be banned if if i aired my veiws on Thompson & Vennables

RIP James

Game pulled over Bulger complaint

A computer game which appeared to feature a CCTV image of the 1993 abduction of murdered toddler James Bulger is being withdrawn from sale.

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/43067000/jpg/_43067583_bulger_abduct_pa203.jpg
The image was seen around the
world when James went missing

The move follows calls from his mother, Denise Fergus, for stores to halt sales of Law and Order: Double or Nothing.

An image appears to depict James being led away in Merseyside by his killers Robert Thompson and John Venables.

Legacy Interactive, the developer of the game, apologised and said the photo would be removed from future copies.

More (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/6768695.stm)...

That's pretty thoughtless...

More than thoughtless as it was a direct and deliberate attempt to include something the makers knew would get it publicity and as the game has been out for some time, it's just a wonder it's taken so long to come to light, it's like how far can you go to step over the boundaries of decency in the name of pleasure.

This beggers belief...so close after that "Manchester Cathedral" business.
What's wrong with people?

Unlike the Manchester cathedral one, this Is a genuine reason to change the game and pull It off the shelfs.

I agree, This one is far worse.

I still think the Cathedral one is in bad taste though.

They could have just "invented" a non existent Cathedral for the game.

Nobody would have complained then.

But the Cathedral one didn't have real footage or based anything on reality though.

What is the 'Manchester Cathederal' thing? It is terrible about the game with James Bulger, the company certainly got publicity, even though its negative, they will still profit from this unacceptable situation :disgust:

But the Cathedral one didn't have real footage or based anything on reality though.


Erm...Manchester Cathedral" does actually exist...Isn't that reality enough?

Remember, People go and worship there, get married there, are christened there...and have funerals there.

It's just insensative and totally uncalled for.

How Is a story Insensitive and uncalled for when It's based on nothing real?

22 July 2007
JAMES BULGER'S KILLER TO WED
But his fiancee can never know truth about his evil murder secret
By Rachael Bletchly

ONE of the fiends who murdered James Bulger is to wed - but his fiancee knows NOTHING about his evil past.

And probation chiefs say she may NEVER find out she has married one of the most hated men in Britain. :disgust:

More (http://www.people.co.uk/news/tm_headline=james-bulger-s-killer-to-wed&method=full&objectid=19493270&siteid=93463-name_page.html)...

Very unfair that the poor girl does not know what she will be marrying. That evil ******* will be the father of her kids..............and she doesn't know what he's done!!!! She should be told and maybe she'll leave him and maybe he'll be miserable and maybe we'll be happy. He does not deserve a happy, family life!

How do we know the story is true?
If the probation officers have blabbed (and I don't think they have, because it could soon be narrowed down to who said what), if they have blabbed, why don't we know a lot more?
This is just 'The People' knowing that such a claim will sell more papers.

The People know that sooner or later it will probably be a fact that they'll get married, and as the situation stands the wives can't be told, so the paper can say what it likes, knowing that nobody is going to argue with them.

I think their pasts are too well protected, and we'll never know.

How do we know the story is true?
If the probation officers have blabbed (and I don't think they have, because it could soon be narrowed down to who said what), if they have blabbed, why don't we know a lot more?
This is just 'The People' knowing that such a claim will sell more papers.

The People know that sooner or later it will probably be a fact that they'll get married, and as the situation stands the wives can't be told, so the paper can say what it likes, knowing that nobody is going to argue with them.

I think their pasts are too well protected, and we'll never know.
It looks like the story is already being picked up by the rest of the press. See the Daily Mail here (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=470170&in_page_id=1770).

"And the other one is living with a gay partner".

The press know they can say whatever headline grabbing statement comes to their paper-selling minds, because nobody's going to tell them the truth, or even deny what they say.

It's the family of Jamie Bulger I feel sorry for.
They're constantly reminded (as are we) of the tragic events.

How do we know he's still a monster?

who we revealed in May has found God - is planning a church blessing after the civil marriage.

And I doubt he'll spare a thought for little James - who he robbed of the chance to grow up and get married."

He may or may not.

No one needs to be reminded constantly of what they did, just let them all get on with their lives.

How do we know he's still a monster?





He may or may not.

No one needs to be reminded constantly of what they did, just let them all get on with their lives.


Maybe James' Mum and Dad can get on with their lives's eh Max when them pair of pampered Ba****** get whats coming their way..

Those two animals forfeited the right to 'get on with their lives' the moment they killed that poor boy.

The fact they've been given new identities and 'lives' (at the taxpayer's expense) is a disgrace.

'Fiancee of Bulger killer should be told truth'
Jul 23 2007
Liverpool Echo

THE MOTHER of murdered Kirkby toddler James Bulger is demanding probation officers reveal the true identity of his killer, Jon Venables, to an unsuspecting fiancée.

Denise Fergus has spoken out after reports claiming Jon Venables is set to marry a woman who has no idea about her lover’s infamous past.

Jon Venables and Robert Thompson’s crime shocked the world when, aged 10, they kidnapped James, tortured him and dumped him on a railway.

Probation officers are said to have decided that Venables’s girlfriend should never find out who the man she loves is for fear she will confide in an untrustworthy confidant.

Thousands of pounds of taxpayers’ money has been spent on keeping the new identities of Jon Venables and Robert Thompson hidden to protect them against revenge attacks.

Denise Fergus, 36, speaking at her home in Kirkby, said: “If he is really planning to get married, the woman concerned has a right to know the real identity of what she is marrying and the monstrous thing that he did.

“I’ve always said that it would be other people who would suffer as a result of lies that the judges and the probation service concocted around him and Thompson.”

Source: Liverpool Echo (http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2007/07/23/fiancee-of-bulger-killer-should-be-told-truth-100252-19501086/)

As a Mum of three and gran of three the parents of Jamie are serving a sentence the rest of their lives. I do not see why they should be allowed to have their lives for the wicked evil thing they did God may forgive them but if it was me i wouldn,t. those lads deserve a bad end..
caterina...

I agree that the girl should know just who she is involved with, and if
she had any sense, clear off, fast. I for one don't agree with the way
the 2 murderers are protected, to my mind they should still be in an
adult prison, mind you they would probably be dead by now

For all we know she may already know but the authorities are protecting her as well. The authorities could be spinning the media a yarn to protect the man further. Wouldn't surprise me if he was already married and living in a nice village.

Maybe James' Mum and Dad can get on with their lives's eh Max when them pair of pampered Ba****** get whats coming their way..

Yawwwwn.:disgust:

Please do not reply to my posts If you use mob mentality and misread what I mean.

My post was meant to mean that they shouldn't have to be constantly reminded of things like knowing their sons killer are protected for example.

Anyway how Is Denise getting all this Information from If shes not allowed to know?

Yawwwwn.:disgust:

Please do not reply to my posts If you use mob mentality and misread what I mean.

My post was meant to mean that they shouldn't have to be constantly reminded of things like knowing their sons killer are protected for example.

Anyway how Is Denise getting all this Information from If shes not allowed to know?



Mob Mentality Max..No mate..the Thoughts of a Parent Lad..
And exactly the same thoughts as all the Parents on here...
A Big Mob we have here then dont we ??

I apologise by the way Max for reading what you said wrong.

They should never forget what they did, but they were 10 years old at the time of the murder and theres thousands of adult child killers walking the streets after serving what the law considers a sentence.

They were children themselves when they did that horrific murder, and its shocking and disturbing that at 10 years old they were capable thinking, never mind carrying out them vile things, but, coming from a 'mob mentalitied' thug one or two people on here think i am, i think they should be released but under constant supervision and not to have it easy.

What i don't agree with is they should get millions spent on them, people who come into contact with them not being allowed to know who they are and the thoughts and feelings of Denise Fergus not being took into consideration. With child killers and paedaphiles, they should face the consequences off there actions, even if its only to act as some sort of deterrent.

But what liberals and defenders of the 2 criminals must remember that whatever rights these 2 have, James did'nt. People being angry is natural and being accused of mob mentalitys is plain boring and lazy counter argument.

After reading the comments of some fellow members, I can clearly see why wars rage.

Robert Thompson and Jon Venables committed a murder. I believe we are all capable of good and bad things, and yes, that does include murder.

There is so much hate in these members minds, I think it is they who we should be watching out for.

They were ten year old boys at the time, stupid and immature. I take it that you are much older and should know better. Shame on you.

After reading the comments of some fellow members, I can clearly see why wars rage.

Robert Thompson and Jon Venables committed a murder. I believe we are all capable of good and bad things, and yes, that does include murder.

There is so much hate in these members minds, I think it is they who we should be watching out for.

They were ten year old boys at the time, stupid and immature. I take it that you are much older and should know better. Shame on you.

I was thinking because he's supposed to have found god that he's showed signs of being rehabilitated. I'm definatley for rehabilitation.

I agree with your post though.

Thank you Max for some common sense.

Didn't Myra Hindley "Find God" as well..

What about Paedophile priests and child abusers? Because they find religion means absolutley bugger all in my opinion. Osama Bin Laden and his barmy followers have religion, are they good as gold? Course not.

Because someone says they found God does not turn them into great people, a few dead bodies and scarred families dosen't dissappear.

After reading the comments of some fellow members, I can clearly see why wars rage.

Robert Thompson and Jon Venables committed a murder. I believe we are all capable of good and bad things, and yes, that does include murder.

There is so much hate in these members minds, I think it is they who we should be watching out for.

They were ten year old boys at the time, stupid and immature. I take it that you are much older and should know better. Shame on you.


So being angry at a crime causes wars?

What about Paedophile priests and child abusers? Because they find religion means absolutley bugger all in my opinion. Osama Bin Laden and his barmy followers have religion, are they good as gold? Course not.

Because someone says they found God does not turn them into great people, a few dead bodies and scarred families dosen't dissappear.


You misread too, I said It was an example of how he has possibly shown he's been rehabilated.

I didn't say just because he found religion made him rehabilated.

I said he's showed signs of possibly being rehabilated.

well you don,t cause a war by being happy with something. Move on and let the world move on.

For "Finding God" and "I'm rehabilitated.. and I'm very sorry I slaughtered that defenseless child"

READ.."I'm really trying to pull the wool and muggins Longford is gonna get me out"

And long may the B****** rot in hell.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/452614.stm


And before some do-gooder tells me Im evil for saying I hope she rots in hell I suggest yer go and get your own head tested.

Not saying this Is true but could Denise's recent Involvement with wanting his ID revealed to his wife to be for personal reasons wanting him to suffer for what he did?

Even after his prison she seems to want to be so Involved but what about Robert Thompson?

How does she even get all this Info? I think I read once that she saw him walking the streets but didn't go upto him.


But what liberals and defenders of the 2 criminals must remember that whatever rights these 2 have, James did'nt. People being angry is natural and being accused of mob mentalitys is plain boring and lazy counter argument.

So are some of the excuses that the people who don't defend them come out with too though.

Liberal means open minded.

My whole point was that Thompson and Venables seem to have shown that there not a danger to the public and have shown they can be rehabilated.

Thompson even resorted to drugs struggling to come to terms with what he done.

http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100regionalnews/tm_method=full%26objectid=16202815%26siteid=50061-name_page.html

Hindley and Brady are a different story.

With all the theories of death though I wouldn't be so sure of hell.

Denise is involved for life Max, like it or not. You don't stop becoming a parent when children reach 18 and become adults, nor when they flee the nest nor when they're killed (heaven forbid), I'm sure she'd like to forget but can you imagine her attending family and friends holy communion celebrations, 10th birthday parties, becoming teenages, 18th's, 21st's engagements, weddings and then the celebrations of those childrens children - all something she and James were robbed of - the monsters should also never be allowed to forget but for them I think that will be easier.

I can't understand the mentality of people who consider that a child of 10 who murders a child is so much more evil than an adult who murders a child.
This hate is hardly ever directed, in the same way, to adult murderers.

I can't understand the mentality of people who consider that a child of 10 who murders a child is so much more evil than an adult who murders a child.
This hate is hardly ever directed, in the same way, to adult murderers.


Mine is Phil...Apparently Hindley being a Child murderer is different from James' murderers..
Im still trying to work that one out.

anger and hate are all part of what makes us human. If members, who I take are adults, can not control their ignorant rantings for all to see, then they are no better than the children who committed the crime.

I can only hope they do not have children of their own - I pity them

I can't understand the mentality of people who consider that a child of 10 who murders a child is so much more evil than an adult who murders a child.
This hate is hardly ever directed, in the same way, to adult murderers.


Look at that in reverse though.

Children who murder a child (though they were deemed to have known right from wrong and what they were doing, as did Mary Bell) are let out after only a few years in a young offenders institution whereas adult child murderers are banged up for life (supposedly).

You could therefore say that it's the authorities who see a difference too.

anger and hate are all part of what makes us human. If members, who I take are adults, can not control their ignorant rantings for all to see, then they are no better than the children who committed the crime.

I can only hope they do not have children of their own - I pity them


Rubbish.

anger and hate are all part of what makes us human. If members, who I take are adults, can not control their ignorant rantings for all to see, then they are no better than the children who committed the crime.

I can only hope they do not have children of their own - I pity them


So let's get this straight. Me in my anger that short sentences were served and then (my) taxpayers money goes towards a web of lies and deceit (as that's what it is) to protect the guilty for life, makes me as bad as a child murderer. I don't think so mate and you have strange analogies.

So let's get this straight. Me in my anger that short sentences were served and then (my) taxpayers money goes towards a web of lies and deceit (as that's what it is) to protect the guilty for life, makes me as bad as a child murderer. I don't think so mate and you have strange analogies.

Ged :handclap:

I reckon its a Wind up mate..
How can anyone in their right mind have views like that.

Gerard, it looks like it could have been written by the hand of Thompson or Venables themselves mate.

Yes, I know Myra Hindley and Mary Bell are hated.
It seems to be just children and women who kill children who are reviled, but not men!
Hindley is the classic case - Brady hardly ever gets mentioned.

Remember, the Bulger killers were 10, and as horrible as the events were it was just some sort of game.
Perhaps the case effects a raw nerve in parents, because I believe their upbringing had a lot to do with what they did.

Yes, I know Myra Hindley and Mary Bell are hated.
It seems to be just children and women who kill children who are reviled, but not men!
Hindley is the classic case - Brady hardly ever gets mentioned.

Remember, the Bulger killers were 10, and as horrible as the events were it was just some sort of game.
Perhaps the case effects a raw nerve in parents, because I believe their upbringing had a lot to do with what they did.



Your right there Phil...Something to do with a Woman's maternal instincts and how a woman could do the things she did to a child...several in fact.

How can anyone in their right minds have views like that" my sentiments to you Gerard.

And to Ged, (my mate) read this and understand. You are not perfect obviously. You have never lied and been deceitful?

Thompson and Venables took their lies and deceit to the extreme, so can you, so can we all.

The two two boys should have been punished, they were punished, so move on with your sad life.

I wonder what kind of parents these members make?

Better parents than you because we wouldn't consider it ok to kill someone then expect to move on afterwards as though nothing had happened.

Also, if you manage to actually grasp what i'm saying, the lies and deceit are now - still continuing.

The two two boys should have been punished, they were punished, so move on with your sad life.

I wonder what kind of parents these members make?

For such a n00b centaur, u should check your rudeness to long standing members, watch your conduct.

The two two boys should have been punished, they were punished, so move on with your sad life.

I wonder what kind of parents these members make?
You appear to have some wierd ideas in your head.

[QUOTE=Max;70066]Not saying this Is true but could Denise's recent Involvement with wanting his ID revealed to his wife to be for personal reasons wanting him to suffer for what he did?

Can you really blame her,I'm a mother of two grown ups and i just can't imagine ever being able to forgive those two. I know they were only kids at the time but how many kids do you know who would do a monstrous thing like they did.

One has to remember that this wasn't just a game gone wrong as mentioned earlier. They picked their 'victim' waiting for his mothers back to be turned for less than a minute whilst getting served then led him by the hand on quite some route. When confronted by passers by who noticed James crying, they said words to the effect of 'it's alright, he's with us' - that's a premeditated action. At any point they could have let him go and this thread wouldn't exist. Add to this they spattered him with paint from a humbrol tin, battered him and left him across a railway line to be cut in half and really, need I go on........10 year olds know what's going on more than you'd ever give them credit for, this was an act of pure evil and then to not come forward when the inevitable hit the fan and then to blame each other. The lies and deceit were exceptional and the authorities are condoning its continuence by inventing new lives for them, possibly giving them opportunities that even well mannered individuals weren't afforded such as one to one tuition, jobs, accommodation etc - and they say crime doesn't pay.

Thank you, Ged.
We have heard the details before.

Even after all this time, people are putting all the blame on the children.
It's like when a dog kills a child.
The dog gets put down, then everything's OK.
Nobody bothers to investigate the dog's owner or the children's parents.

Denise is involved for life Max, like it or not. You don't stop becoming a parent when children reach 18 and become adults, nor when they flee the nest nor when they're killed (heaven forbid), I'm sure she'd like to forget but can you imagine her attending family and friends holy communion celebrations, 10th birthday parties, becoming teenages, 18th's, 21st's engagements, weddings and then the celebrations of those childrens children - all something she and James were robbed of - the monsters should also never be allowed to forget but for them I think that will be easier.

They obviously won't forget what they did.

How can she be Involved with them two anymore when they have new Identities and new lives now?

No I can;t imagine how she'd feel but she will onbviously have negative feelings because of what happened to her son.

Not everyone has heard the details Phil, not even us, remember, a lot were kept from the public according to inspector Albert Kirby at the time, this was because the finer details were so heinous.

Bad things are also done sometimes by kids brought up well, we only have to remember the well publicised cases of children who have killed their parents for monetary gain in the U.S. or the Jeremy Bamber case here, you can't always blame the parents but it seems letting these kids watch (Childs play 2)Chucky was blamed in part at the time too, one was also a latch key kid.

It was mentioned by centaur earlier that we all have it within us to be evil or kill, yes, but how many of us actually ever cross that line. It must be sick minds who'd do that.

I think most of us would 'pull the lever' ourselves if we had to see both of them hang for their crimes.

Personally, they should be handed on a plate to the family of Jamie, see if they would like a taste of their own medicine.

Thank you for your advice Kev.

My comments have certainly got people thinking. I am probably younger than many on this forum, and it would appear wiser.

Members talk of a wind up, surely a reference to the toys they are playing with.

I am glad these members have been so vocal and hope more inteligent members may judge for themselves who is right.

I have said my piece. The end

Your comments certainly did get me thinking, and yes got me thinking that you are probably quite a bit younger - try 8. :unibrow:

I agree with Phil regarding the fact they are kids which stops me thinking that they should hang or be locked up for life. As i pointed out, plenty of adults, men usually, walk the streets after serving a silly sentence an good behaviour after killing or raping a child.

Centaur i really must let you know your comments have not got me thinking at all. You've said exactly what i expect from someone whos got compassion and forgiving nature for child killers or criminals. The same old line of 'as bad as the murderers' is as predictable as darkness falling at night. People disagree with the fact that the lads served only 8 years for what is a sickening crime, calling them sad shows you real funny compassionate side. As its pointed out, what they did wasn't your 'average' murder. They tortured and did some sickening things to that baby, things that if they did to a dog people would still be repulsed to the stomach. Funny how you said to Ged 'you not lied or been decietful' like that rivals torturing and murdering a baby. Strange logic that.

Max i got what you mean't, you mean't Venables has found God so thats good enough for you to believe hes been rehabilitated. My argument is because someone is religious does not make them good or a rehabilitated person. I know plenty of hypocrites who claim to be holier than thou christians and in fact just as nasty as the next person. Questioning Denise Fergus' motives for wanting to know the were abouts of the killers to me shows you criticising her. So forgiveness for the killers and critiscm for the women who suffered the most (after James).

I have said it before, they should be released but on tag, they should not be giving a cushy lifestyle as it shows crime does in fact pay. People involved in them should know who they are, especially future spouses.

No you didn't get what I meant.

Was good enough for me to say he was rehabilitated? I merely said that he's showed signs that he was capable of being rehabilitated. It doesn't mean I thought It was good enough.

Whats wrong with what questioning Fegus's motives? All you said Is I'm criticising her. I'm wondering why she wants to be so Involved with Venables outside of what he did to her son.

The fake Identities are need though, we don't need R-tards attacking them on the street ruining their own lives In the process and thinking It's justified because what Venables and Thompson did though.

Theirs people who don't know the difference between a Pedophile and Pediatrician as some doctors have been attacked because of the word Ped in their occupation.

No you didn't get what I meant.

Was good enough for me to say he was rehabilitated? I merely said that he's showed signs that he was capable of being rehabilitated. It doesn't mean I thought It was good enough.

Whats wrong with what questioning Fegus's motives? All you said Is I'm criticising her. I'm wondering why she wants to be so Involved with Venables outside of what he did to her son.

I suspect an ulterior motive, such as revenge

I suspect an ulterior motive, such as revenge


And only a Mother who's child has been murdered will know what she's going through..
Good luck to her.

Venables has found God my Ars*
Im sick and tired of hearing this crap.

What makes you sick and tired of hearing that Venables has found religion?

What makes you sick and tired of hearing that Venables has found religion?


What makes you think Venables is not trying to pull the wool ?

I dont believe the found god stuff either, and I dont take too much notice of people in do good occupations who continually make excuses for their clients. I believe their identities have to be kept secret simply to stop mob rule taking over, because if vigalantism goes unchecked society will descend into chaos. I feel very sorry for Denise Fergus that even if she wanted to put it all behind her and move on she couldnt do so anyway due to the media frenzy that continues to surround this case.

Herod, the Spanish Inquisition, Rasputin, all God stuff,but still killers, those
two wicked *******s,should still be in a cell.

What makes you think Venables is not trying to pull the wool ?

He might be but he's done nothing wrong since released.

A very touchy subject indeed, that will create debate for many years to come. I have my oppinions, but in no way wish to get involved in this shouting match. We, as a democracy, vote people in who legislate on this, thus we do not have capital punishment. And that means you, or I cannot take the law into our hands and 'string up' offenders. I think Centaur had some relevent points, but because it did not fit in with the majorities thinking was 'ganged' upon, by 'senior' members. Lynching is illegal too. :PDT_Xtremez_12:

Centaur went beyond Rule No 1 of this forum which is "to be friendly", but I suspect the reference to "Senior" members didn't come out the way it was meant.

I think Centaur had some relevent points, but because it did not fit in with the majorities thinking was 'ganged' upon, by 'senior' members. Lynching is illegal too. :PDT_Xtremez_12:

Differences of opinions are fine and dandy, being rude and impolite, insulting members as has been shown in the first few posts of Centaur has almost certainly broke rule number 1.

He might be but he's done nothing wrong since released.

How do you know ?. he may have but like his ID and werabouts, it
has ben hushed up

Max, you said hes supposed to have found God hes shown sign of rehabillitation so yes i do understand what you were saying. And i pointed out were i think your wrong.

But you are criticising Denise for her motives. Why she wants to be involved. Its obvious, HE KILLED AND TORTURED HER BABY. How can she move on when thats happened? Shes rightly peeved there walking the streets, shes rightly upset they are getting all kinds of help, shes rightly dismayed people close to him have no idea who he is. While James is now nothing but memories. The lad has ripped her heart out. If she wants revenge, can you blame her? Who are do gooders to tell her that her babies murderers have done there sentence and she should move on?

Now i stick to what i said, because they were 10 i don't think they should serve life or be hung. But i know if i was in Denises, or Ralphs, shoes, i would think differently and justifiably so.

One thing that seems obvious out of all this how life seems to be 'happy days' for the two perpetrators of the crime. The seriousness of it seemed to have kick started what seems to have been the best thing that could have ever happened to them both once they were taken away from their surroundings.

For the parents or any parent to see this must make them so angry.

Max, you said hes supposed to have found God hes shown sign of rehabillitation so yes i do understand what you were saying. And i pointed out were i think your wrong.

But you are criticising Denise for her motives. Why she wants to be involved. Its obvious, HE KILLED AND TORTURED HER BABY. How can she move on when thats happened? Shes rightly peeved there walking the streets, shes rightly upset they are getting all kinds of help, shes rightly dismayed people close to him have no idea who he is. While James is now nothing but memories. The lad has ripped her heart out. If she wants revenge, can you blame her? Who are do gooders to tell her that her babies murderers have done there sentence and she should move on?

Now i stick to what i said, because they were 10 i don't think they should serve life or be hung. But i know if i was in Denises, or Ralphs, shoes, i would think differently and justifiably so.

I didn't say It was good enough for me though like you said. It's showed signs he was capable of being rehabilitated.

It may not be her true motives to get revenge I thought it could of been a possibility It's not very criticising to say It's a possible motive.

She says the wife to be has a right to now and feels so strongly that his identity hasn't been revealed to her yet although we haven't really much sources to say she doesn't know other than her words.

Shes rightly upset I agree but she doesn't have any business In his new life no more really, both served sentences for what they did, became rehabilitated and both living new lives.

Why state obvious Info when no ones denying they killed James?

What do gooder thinks anyone Involved will move on? None of them will ever be able to move on. None of my points even made out I thought she should move on.

No I can't blame her after what happened either.

You get didn't get what I meant, I said what I meant and you think I meant something else.

She can justify the way she thinks and rightfully so no one who you would call a do gooder would deny that either.

One thing that seems obvious out of all this how life seems to be 'happy days' for the two perpetrators of the crime. The seriousness of it seemed to have kick started what seems to have been the best thing that could have ever happened to them both once they were taken away from their surroundings.

For the parents or any parent to see this must make them so angry.

I posted an Echo link about how Thompson wasn't so happy days at one point as he was taking heroin to help him come to terms with what he done .

I posted an Echo link about how Thompson wasn't so happy days at one point as he was taking heroin to help him come to terms with what he done .

Shame, poor fella

Give him a bucketfull.

I didn't say It was good enough for me though like you said. It's showed signs he was capable of being rehabilitated.

It may not be her true motives to get revenge I thought it could of been a possibility It's not very criticising to say It's a possible motive.

She says the wife to be has a right to now and feels so strongly that his identity hasn't been revealed to her yet although we haven't really much sources to say she doesn't know other than her words.

Shes rightly upset I agree but she doesn't have any business In his new life no more really, both served sentences for what they did, became rehabilitated and both living new lives.

Why state obvious Info when no ones denying they killed James?

What do gooder thinks anyone Involved will move on? None of them will ever be able to move on. None of my points even made out I thought she should move on.

No I can't blame her after what happened either.

You get didn't get what I meant, I said what I meant and you think I meant something else.

She can justify the way she thinks and rightfully so no one who you would call a do gooder would deny that either.


If you think it shows signs hes rehabilitated then it must be good enough for you. Otherwise why say it.

Her motive could be revenge for which she is justifiably entitled.

She has no business in his new life? He had no business torturing and killing her baby, but thats another story. But like it or not she does have a business in his life. When she thinks of her baby, its going to be very difficult to not have Venables or Thompsons name attached. Venables may be able to look forwards and try and come to terms with what hes done but Denise and Ralph won't. If its a tiny comfort to them to know the wearabouts of Venables then its there business to do what they, not the do gooding liberal, think helps them.

Why state the obvious? Because certain people have to be reminded before accusing others of being 'as bad as them'.

You may of never said it literally she should move on but you expect her to accept they have been punished enough. So you do think she should move on, otherwise you wouldn't expect her to accept.

Insinuating doesn't mean I think It's good enough just because I said he's showed signs or capable of being rehabilitated. I would of said It was good enough for me.

I didn't disagree It was justified.

Of course he had not business killing her baby no one denies that. It could be comforting to know their whereabouts but wouldn't some victums also not want to see the faces of these monsters who affected their lives too? Maybe she Is after justifiable revenge too.

No one on this forum has needed to be reminded of the obvious as we all know what happened.

I don't expect anyone to be anything, people are different to me, I would of said I would expect people to move on otherwise. For what shes been through no I don't expect her to move on.

One of the biggest mistakes in the trial of Thompson and Venables involved putting them through the public trial process in the first place and releasing their names to the public. This would not happen now because the legal system recognises that a court is no place for a ten or eleven year old child. A child cannot instruct solicitors/barristers or stand up to cross examination. Nowadays there are child and family courts that are much better suited to dealing with crimes involving minors.

I can understand the hatred expressed on this thread. I'm less sure of some of the logic. I'm guessing that people aren't suggesting that it's ok to beat a ten year old up or hand him over to hardened criminals to 'give him what's coming to him'? Perhaps people are suggesting that it's not appropriate to do this to a ten year old but when he or she becomes ? age, it's then ok to kick their heads in because that's what they deserve?

I'm disappointed, too, at how people toss the term 'do-gooders' around as a term of abuse. I'm not a 100% sure what people mean by this term so please feel free to define it for me. I don't want to make assumptions about what people mean - perhaps people mean different things?

I take everything I read about Venables and Thompson with a pinch of salt.
Personally I would like never to hear about them again. People are paid to make judgements about the risk they pose to others. Let them decide what course of action needs to be taken to maintain public safety.

I'm disappointed, too, at how people toss the term 'do-gooders' around as a term of abuse. I'm not a 100% sure what people mean by this term so please feel free to define it for me. I don't want to make assumptions about what people mean - perhaps people mean different things?



A well-intentioned but naive and often ineffectual social or political reformer. source (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/do%20gooder)

A well-intentioned but naive and often ineffectual social or political reformer. source (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/do%20gooder)

Like the political and social reformers of the 19th and 20th centuries who ensured that the poor had improved sanitation, education and lower mortality rates?

Or maybe someone like Lord Longford - who is perceived as being taken in by people he tried to help?

My guess it that for every one like Longford there are ten like Margaret Simey

Why Is liberal tossed around too? Doesn't liberal mean open minded?

The people who toss around do gooder surley would consider themselves do gooders too since their not surely bad people.

Insinuating doesn't mean I think It's good enough just because I said he's showed signs or capable of being rehabilitated. I would of said It was good enough for me.

I didn't disagree It was justified.

Of course he had not business killing her baby no one denies that. It could be comforting to know their whereabouts but wouldn't some victums also not want to see the faces of these monsters who affected their lives too? Maybe she Is after justifiable revenge too.

No one on this forum has needed to be reminded of the obvious as we all know what happened.

I don't expect anyone to be anything, people are different to me, I would of said I would expect people to move on otherwise. For what shes been through no I don't expect her to move on.

Insinuating or whatever, you obviously do think because hes found god hes showing signs of rehabilitating.

So you understand the turmoil Denise has suffered and also agree feelings on hatred and revenge is justified and shes doing what gives her little comfort. So why question her motives? Apparently you already know.

Whats a do gooder? Why i toss it around. I consider a do gooder who arrogantley think they are so more civilised than the 'mob mentalitied thugs' who express anger and contempt for a killer, a child killer, a paedophile or a sex offender by expressing contempt and anger at those they accuse of 'being as bad as the murderer'. So in that case, dosen't that make them also just as bad as the 'thugs'? Whilst the 'mob thugs' criticise the killer, the 'compassionates' always go and get personal with the 'mob thugs' and dish out insulting lines like 'your no better than the killer'. They try to make those disgusted by crimes commited by certain individuals feel guilty for feeling such a way. They claim to have a heart and the those 'mob thugs' don't even though the 'mob thugs' are openly upset what the victims went through. I don't particular dislike 'do gooders' as such, i'm all for debate and different opinions, just don't take particularly well being accussed of being in line with a child killer they always dish.

Yes I do think he's showed signs of being rehabilitated and he;s done nothing wrong since released. Religion Is just an example.

I couldn't understand the turmoil shes gone through unless I've gone through It myself but If anyones gone through a tragedy like she has then you can't blame them for the motives. I don't already know she merely says the bride to be has a right to know.

Then by your definition of Do Gooders, theirs not really any on here. It's one thing to express anger and contempt but the things like Shytalk said when I mentioned Thompson's drug problem saying give him a bucketload does make a case for mob mentality being expressed by some.

. It's one thing to express anger and contempt but the things like Shytalk said when I mentioned Thompson's drug problem saying give him a bucketload does make a case for mob mentality being expressed by some.

I was being kind. Something I would do for all junkies, rehabilitation just doesn't work. Why should I as a taxpayer pay for these idiots stupidity.

Yes I do think he's showed signs of being rehabilitated and he;s done nothing wrong since released. Religion Is just an example.

I couldn't understand the turmoil shes gone through unless I've gone through It myself but If anyones gone through a tragedy like she has then you can't blame them for the motives. I don't already know she merely says the bride to be has a right to know.

Then by your definition of Do Gooders, theirs not really any on here. It's one thing to express anger and contempt but the things like Shytalk said when I mentioned Thompson's drug problem saying give him a bucketload does make a case for mob mentality being expressed by some.

So it is good enough for you then because of religion.

Sorry to say but people on here do say 'your as bad as them'. And even you claim to have a heart and open mind for offenders and have contempt fo those who have a differing opinion at the opposite end of the scale.

Most of the wars there ever were started because of religion. People killing each other in the name of their god. Did anyones god intent for this to happen?

I was being kind. Something I would do for all junkies, rehabilitation just doesn't work. Why should I as a taxpayer pay for these idiots stupidity.


Well Thompson and Venables have shown rehabilitation works for most people. It doesn't work for all either.

So it is good enough for you then because of religion.

Sorry to say but people on here do say 'your as bad as them'. And even you claim to have a heart and open mind for offenders and have contempt fo those who have a differing opinion at the opposite end of the scale.

No I didn't say It was good enough, It's an example of showing he can be rehabilitated and has.

I could use the fact he's done no wrong since released as an example too.

I haven't seen anyone say your as bad as them, I remember saying I don't want to be on the levels of savages as one point to why I'm against capital punishment.

I do Indeed have an open mind for offenders. I don't consider people who differ to my opinions vile or worthless( I had to look up contempt) or have contempt.

I thought this article from the Observer from 2003 was interesting and put things into perspective.

Don't call him Jamie, but the papers did. Little Jamie. Brave little Jamie. Justice for Jamie. Jamie's psycho killers go free. For 10 years now, 10 years this week, the media has appropriated the memory of James Bulger for its own ends. The usual suspects have split along the usual lines. Some - and my own hand goes up first here - have used the scenes of violence outside Bootle magistrates' court to excoriate the 'mob'; to bemoan the way that the mourning and the flowers were tinged with mawkishness, and opened Britain's emotional floodgates. The more vengeful elements have, of course, gone potso. They started off comparing James's killers, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables, to Saddam Hussein; more recently, particularly after they were paroled last year, it has all but threatened to expose their new identities and let the lynch mob do its worst. 'While the News of the World will, reluctantly, obey the court order banning the media from publishing information about the schoolboy murderers' new identities... we WILL monitor this evil pair closely.We shall do all in our power to watch over them. That is the very least that a law-abiding society deserves.'

Even if the Bulger family had wanted to try to forget, it never had a chance; every twist in the legal wranglings prompted another call to elicit simplistic quotes such as the recent one from James' uncle, also James, that 'killing's too good for them', and the rest of us shake our heads again at Liverpool. Even politicians got in on it. Michael Howard extended the boys' sentences at the yelp of the tabloids. Tony Blair's speech at the time about 'hammer blows against the sleeping conscience of the country' went down particularly well; according to my Observer colleague Andrew Rawnsley, this episode as much as any other brought him first to public attention and was, in significant ways, the making of him. So we all got something out of it, something out of James. Except, of course, for Liverpool.

The full article is here (http://www.guardian.co.uk/bulger/article/0,,891790,00.html)

No I didn't say It was good enough, It's an example of showing he can be rehabilitated and has.

I could use the fact he's done no wrong since released as an example too.

I haven't seen anyone say your as bad as them, I remember saying I don't want to be on the levels of savages as one point to why I'm against capital punishment.

I do Indeed have an open mind for offenders. I don't consider people who differ to my opinions vile or worthless( I had to look up contempt) or have contempt.

Using it as an example is still saying you agree.

Open mind for offenders maybe, but some crimes are so sickening that rehabilitation dosen't come into it. A serial killer, child molester or rapist saying sorry 10s years down the line is just not good enough if they've left a trail of destruction and anguish.

it's been rumoured that one of these lads has been re-located to new zealand, I remember the outcry and reaction here when the case first happened , i'm sure if he was here and he was outed he would be swinging on a lampost before teatime

if they had been legally executed as i believe they should have been nobody would even remember their names now, and it would have set an example to some of these creatures who are walking the streets of our city now.
when there is now more room in hell the dead shall walk the earth.

if they had been legally executed as i believe they should have been

Execute 10 year old kids? Are you sane?

Whenever I see this thread in 'Today's Posts', I wonder what the self-righteous are going to say next.

'James would be 18 now - the pain of losing him will never go away'
Elizabeth Day
The Observer, Sunday March 2 2008

Fifteen years ago, the murder of toddler James Bulger by two young boys horrified Britain and inflicted deep wounds on their home city of Liverpool. In this moving interview, James's mother Denise Fergus tells Elizabeth Day that the passing years have not diminished the pain over the loss of her son and her anger towards his killers, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables

http://image.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2008/03/01/bulger460x276.jpg
James Bulger. Photograph: PA

Denise Fergus still cannot bring herself to walk near the Walton railway line. The track is a constant reminder, a prosaic memorial of all that haunts her. She goes out of her way to avoid it, to circumvent this unremarkable part of Liverpool, even if it adds miles to her journey and makes her late home.

It has been 15 years since the murder of her son James Bulger on this stretch of track; 15 years since he was beaten to death by two killers who were themselves children. Time might have passed but, if anything, Denise's memories have come more sharply into focus with each quiet anniversary. There is nothing exceptional in her annual remembrance, nothing that would intimate the barbaric nature of her son's death nor that would hint to a passing onlooker at the anger that burns deep inside. On the day James was killed, 12 February, she took a wreath of flowers to his grave. The rest she kept in her thoughts.

'It was a difficult day,' she says. 'Getting through February is always hard. James would have been 18 this year. The real sadness is that he would have been so loved.' Instead, his death at the age of two became a part of legal history. When found guilty of the killing in 1993, Jon Venables and Robert Thompson were the youngest convicted murderers in Britain for almost three centuries.

Most of us can remember the Bulger case. We remember the toddler's disappearance - that blurry-edged CCTV footage of James being led out of a shopping centre by two older boys, his hands trustingly outstretched, his small legs whirring to keep up. We recall the sudden horror of his death, the discovery of his body 48 hours later on Valentine's Day and the shocking realisation that the prime suspects were only 10. We remember the mounting sense of horror that children could be capable of such cruelty, later confirmed by the trial judge's statement that theirs was an act of 'unparalleled evil'. We remember that James was just two years old, too young, far too young, to have been dragged under by life's dark undertow.

But, 15 years on, some of the detail is likely to elude us. The macabre precision of the post-mortem examination, for instance, that showed James had been beaten, kicked and bruised by his tormentors, that he had been thrashed with an iron bar and pelted with stones. That he had been forced to walk more than two miles, bloodied and crying, to a desolate stretch of railway line. That his face had been splattered with blue paint and the hood of his anorak had been ripped off. That when he was dead, the two boys laid him across the tracks and buried his head under a mound of bricks. That they stripped him of his trousers, shoes and socks. That a train ran James over with such force his legs were sliced from his torso and flung several metres from his upper body.

For several years after reading the police reports, Venables's solicitor, Laurence Lee, suffered from nightmares. He dreamt that he was eight years old, taking a ride on a ghost train at a local fairground. 'I would fall out on to the tracks, be run over and killed,' he says. 'I'm 54 now but there's not a day that passes without me thinking about it.

'The police found a leaf stuck to the bottom of his bare foot. That one detail broke my heart.' The murder was, he acknowledges, senseless in the truest definition of the word. There was no answer to the perpetual why. There were just more and more questions, heaped upon each other until there seemed little point in asking them any more.

Certainly, the people of Liverpool do not ask. It is too painful to be reminded and too hopeless to seek explanation. It is a place used to tragedy - four years before James's murder, 96 Liverpool football fans were crushed to death at Hillsborough - but one that has also sought to rejuvenate itself. This year, it is the European Capital of Culture and people are wary of bringing up the past, of associating themselves endlessly with tainted sadness.

Yet wherever you go in this city, whichever street you walk down or door you knock, the memories still float to the surface like unbidden driftwood. Four miles north of the centre, in the Strand shopping centre in Bootle where James got fatally separated from his mother as she stood at the butcher's counter, the shadow of what happened still casts its pall over the tinny piped music and cellophane-wrapped teddy bears.

'It's not forgotten by any means,' says Donna Martin, 36, the assistant manager of Clinton Cards. 'I just remember the sheer horror of it. At first, we hoped the little boy would be found and then, when we heard it was kids who had done it... it was just unbelievable.'

Two miles east in Walton, where Venables and Thompson grew up, there is a pervading weariness, a sense that the community has become calcified in a state of perpetual penance. At St Luke's Church, the gates have been padlocked and sprayed with anti-vandalism paint. Last week, the owner of the local newsagent was forced to divide the shop in two with a floor-to-ceiling glass screen after a customer tried to jump the counter.

John, 26, was in Thompson's year at St Mary's primary school. 'I can't really remember him,' he says. 'It's not something you want to remember, to be honest, even though it's always there. Everyone here has been affected by it. A mate of mine found the body. He didn't recognise it as a boy at first. He thought it was a doll. It just destroyed him.'

But it is in a small pocket of the Liverpool suburb of Kirkby that James's death is most keenly felt. Denise Fergus still lives here, in a neat, semi-detached house filled with mementoes: a lock of James's hair, a selection of small jumpers, his go-kart. In the loft, she keeps a fireplace from her old home, marked by a toddler's accidental, greasy handprint. Divorced from James's father, she has remarried and insists on talking about her son every day to her three other children - Michael, 14, Thomas, nine, and Leon, eight.

'I cherish the memories of him,' she says. 'Like a day I'd come out of the shower and sprayed on some deodorant. He said "You smell lovely Mummy", and put a big smile on my face. I still wear that same deodorant today.

'The pain of losing him will never go away. But there's so much more in my life that I determined long ago not to be a victim any more. I don't let things hurt me so easily as I once did. Like it was hurtful when the papers called him "Jamie". That was never his name. It was like a strange label they invented to sum him up in one word. It's the same now with Madeleine McCann. The papers call her "Maddy".

'The thing that rubs salt in the wound for me is knowing the two who killed him are walking around thinking they got away with murder.

'I can never forgive Thompson and Venables for the horrendous, calculated, cold-blooded murder of James.

'They were 10 years of age but much, much older in their minds. They knew full well what they were doing, yet they've never shown a single shred of remorse.'

At the time, none of us was sure what to make of those two young boys, the static grins of their school photographs imprinted so forcefully on our consciousness. In the aftermath of the trial in November 1993, the Daily Star carried pictures of Venables and Thompson underneath the headline 'How do you feel now you little b*stards?' alongside the unconsciously ironic masthead slogan, 'The newspaper that cares'. It seemed to sum up society's own discomfort: the conflicted paradox between feeling sympathy for children caught up in something they did not necessarily understand and the primal rage provoked by the murder of a toddler entirely unequipped to defend himself.

It seemed easier to say that Thompson and Venables were 'born evil', to absolve us of collective responsibility, to paint them as examples of a monstrous otherness whose actions were beyond rational explanation. But for some, such as the consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist Dr Eileen Vizard, who gave evidence at the trial, the reasons children kill are more subtle: 'More often than not, it is a complicated matrix of individual, familial and environmental risk factors that come together in a bad way at the same time.'

Both Venables and Thompson grew up in an area where unemployment was twice the national average and both their fathers were out of work. They came from two broken homes and forged a common bond through playing truant. The domestic chaos was worse for Thompson - the family was well-known to police and disliked by locals, and his older brother Ian had taken an overdose of paracetamol to force social services to put him into care.

In the run-up to the Bulger murder, much of what they did was the normal misbehaviour of a pair of youthful miscreants: they would while away their days with bouts of petty shoplifting and frighten elderly women by jumping out at them in the street. But Thompson was, says Laurence Lee, 'like the Pied Piper'. 'When they took James to the railway track, Jon said to me that he only threw small stones, that he missed on purpose. Robert Thompson allegedly said "Are you blind, divvy?" Thompson was the most frightening child I've ever seen, with these cold, steely eyes. It was absolutely chilling when he stared at you.'

Neither boy expressed remorse, although Venables was the more emotional of the two, crying and shrieking as the sentence was passed while Thompson sat, dry-eyed, occasionally smirking, fiddling with a gold ring on one hand. The strength of feeling against Thompson ran so high that a frustrated member of his own legal team is said once to have pushed him up against a wall and shouted 'Why don't you ever cry, you little b*stard?'

Did they know right from wrong? Teachers who gave evidence at the trial concluded that they did, but the legal process must have seemed at times beyond their comprehension. At 10, Britain has one of the lowest ages of criminal responsibility in Europe and in Preston Crown Court, the dock had to be raised by 18 inches so that the boys would be able to see over the top. Venables would spend hours playing Tetris with his junior counsel as his legal team tried to extract information. 'He would say "You're not going to ask me any hard questions are you?",' recalls Lee.

In 1999, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the boys' had been too young to understand the proceedings and their sentence was reduced from 10 to eight years. Released in 2001, Venables and Thompson are living under assumed identities. In detention, they received a better education than many of their contemporaries, each gaining a clutch of GCSEs and A-levels - something that has caused enormous bitterness for those left behind.

Denise finds it especially galling. 'They have been rewarded with the best of everything: a fine education, a new life and protection by the state,' she says. 'They did get away with murder. They got away scot-free. But I am still under a kind of life sentence.'

There is nothing, now, to mark the spot where her son's short life ended with such brutal force. The railway line, approached by a steep grassy embankment strewn with the broken necks of vodka bottles, has been screened off with high metal fences. On one side stands a derelict pub, its boarded-up windows overlooking the track with a blank, shuttered gaze. It is a desolate place to end a life, a bleak memorial. But if there is no physical monument, no plaque or flowered wreath, there is something altogether more lasting. In Liverpool, remembrance is carried close to the heart. It is a city of memories and James Bulger resides there still.

Years of suffering

· 12 February 1993
James Bulger, aged two, goes missing from the Strand shopping centre in Bootle, Liverpool.

· 14 February 1993
Bulger is found dead on a railway track several miles from the shopping centre.

· 18 February 1993
Jon Venables, 10, and Robert Thompson, 10, are arrested in connection with the murder of the toddler.

· 1 March 1993
Thomson and Venables make their first appearance at South Sefton magistrates' court in Bootle and are charged with murder. There are violent scenes outside the court.

· 24 November 1993
Thompson and Venables are tried as adults and sentenced to no less than eight years at Preston Court.

· Summer 1994
Michael Howard, Home Secretary, increases the sentence to 15 years.

· 12 June 1997
Jack Straw reconsiders the sentence for Thompson and Venables.

· 26 October 2000
Lord Woolf reinstates Thompson and Venables's eight-year sentence
after pressure from the European Court of Human Rights.

· 8 January 2001
Thompson and Venables win anonymity for life.

· 22 January 2001
Thompson and Venables are released on life licences by the parole board and are given new identities .

Source: The Observer (http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/mar/02/ukcrime.prisonsandprobation1?gusrc=rss&feed=uknews)

Howie
I need to chin you for reminding me about James!
The tears roll down my face reading yer post and i feel the need to punish those involved, just like i wanted to when they passed us in them security vans all them years ago! The details of how James was killed have slowly come out over the years, im sure if these details would have been known at the time them security vans would never reached court!
I'd do time for the memory of James, V+T should have hung, they havent even had the decency to end their own lives (so far).

I agree, the sentence was disgusting, they should have been given life. It is the same as Mary Bell in Newcastle. As far as i am concerned they know what they are doing. The prison system is too soft.


Reign of terror: 25/05/68 - 31/07/68

Motive: No motive

Crimes: Murder of Martin Brown, 4, on 25 May 1968 and Brian Howe, 3, on 31 July 1968, in the Scotswood district of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

Method: Strangulation

Sentence: Detention for life

Interesting facts: Mary Bell was only ten years old when she murdered Martin Brown. Present with her at both murders was her 13 year old friend Norma Bell, no relation. Living in a slum area of Newcastle, the children spent their days playing in the derelict houses and demolished rubble in the area. Three boys found the body of Martin Brown in one of these houses and raised the alarm. At the post mortem, the cause of his death could not be positively established, as there were no marks around his neck that should have been present if he'd been strangled. It was concluded that it had been an accident.

The day after Martin Brown had been killed, vandals broke into the local nursery school. Among the chaos they left behind, handwritten notes were found, written by a child, saying "I murder SO THAT I may come back", "Fuch off, we murder, watch out Fanny and ******", "You are mice Y Becurse we murdered Martain Go Brown you Bete Look out there are Murders about by Fanny and auld ****** you Screws" and "We did murder Martain Brown ****of you *******". Several days after this break in, Norma and Mary were caught having broken into the nursery. They denied having broken into the first time.

It was realised that Brian Howe had gone missing on the afternoon of his death and Mary helped the family look for him. His body was eventually found late in the evening, between two large reinforced concrete blocks, on a wasteground known to the local children as "The Tin Lizzy". His body was thinly covered in grass and weeds. He had obviously been strangled. There were also 6 small stab wounds on his legs which had been inflicted after death. Near his body a pair of bent scissors were found. Due to the amount of pressure that was used to strangle Brian Howe, it was clear that he had been killed by a child.

Mary and Norma were caught when the police interviewed all the children of the area. They were very vague about their movements, and when questioned further, Mary remembered details she'd not remembered before, and implicated her in the murder of Brian Howe, as she described matters that had not been made public by the police that only the killer could have known. After questioning, Norma admitted that Mary had strangled Brian in her presence, and that Mary had also scratched him with a razor blade. She led the police to where this razor blade was hidden. Any such markings were not found at post mortem, but on returning to the body, it was found that the marks were now visible. A faint M had been scratched onto his abdomen.

Norma and Mary Bell stood trial in an adult court. The court room had no dock in it, so that the children could sit close to their legal teams, and their parents could also be close. Norma Bell was acquitted of the murder of both boys, whilst Mary Bell was found guilty of manslaughter due to diminished responsibility. Mary spent 12 years in custody, and was released in 1980, assuming a new identity to protect herself. She gave birth to a daughter in 1984. She even went to the home of the first victim, four days after he died and when his mother said he'd died, she said 'i know, i just wanted to see him in his coffin'

I heard about this today,& have donated already,I can't think of a more fitting memorial for such a lovely little boy,James Murder affected me profoundly & I still think about him now,I hope you all donate & help to get 5this memorial for James.
It as been a long time coming,but never late than never I guess.I am just trying to pass the info on to as many people as possible and if you know anyone who would be interested could you please pass the info on.this is just a little info from the site.Thankyou.

Red Balloon Learner Centre - Liverpool: £1,000,000 appeal.
Esther Rantzen, who is a patron of Red Balloon, was inspired to develop the idea of this memorial to James during a visit to Liverpool in 2007. "16th March 2008 would have been James' eighteenth birthday. No life has been more cruelly cut short than that lovely two-year-old, who was murdered fifteen years ago. It is extraordinary that there is no memorial to him. With the help of people in Liverpool and around the world who love and care for children, together we will create James Bulger House, to protect our children and save more lives." Denise Fergus, James' mother, says: "I have witnessed the work that Red Balloon does with bullied children and I am sure that there is a very great need for a learner centre refuge for victims of bullying on Merseyside. If James Bulger House can help save the life of just one child in that terrible situation then it will be a fitting tribute to my son. "

You can donate by going to www.justgiving.com/jamesbulger.

My website dedicated to James:
http://www.jamesbulger.moonfruit.com

Red Balloon Learner Centre - Liverpool: £1,000,000 appeal.
Esther Rantzen, who is a patron of Red Balloon, was inspired to develop the idea of this memorial to James during a visit to Liverpool in 2007. "16th March 2008 would have been James' eighteenth birthday. No life has been more cruelly cut short than that lovely two-year-old, who was murdered fifteen years ago. It is extraordinary that there is no memorial to him. With the help of people in Liverpool and around the world who love and care for children, together we will create James Bulger House, to protect our children and save more lives." Denise Fergus, James' mother, says: "I have witnessed the work that Red Balloon does with bullied children and I am sure that there is a very great need for a learner centre refuge for victims of bullying on Merseyside. If James Bu