The killer of James Bulger has launched a legal bid to block his victim’s parents from attending his parole hearing.
Murderer Jon Venables, who is now 43-years-old, was granted a new hearing 11 months ago. His victim’s parents, Ralph, 59, and Denise, 57, won the right to attend the review but insiders say Venables has challenged the decision to allow them to attend
The parents have been preparing for the hearing since last August but Venables’ challenge means the hearing, which is set to include impact statements from the Bulger family, means it is now not expected to take place until September at the earliest.
A source said: “This has caused fresh anguish to James’ family on top of everything they have been through.
“And once again James’ family have been left questioning who is actually the victim – them or the monster who tortured and killed James.
“It seems completely absurd to be giving the family hope by allowing them access to the parole hearing and then considering reneging on that, just because Venables is too much of a coward to front up to them,” the source told the Sun.
“It is agony for them and it has been going on for more than a year. It is an appalling situation but they will not give up fighting.”
Venables’ crime shocked the nation when he abducted two-year-old James Bulger from a shopping centre in Merseyside in 1993 before torturing and murdering him.
He has now told officials he will refuse to attend the hearing if James’ parents are present. The hearing would see Venables, who was granted a lifetime anonymity order, give testimony from behind a screen at the review.
In November 2023 he failed to show up to give evidence in person at a parole hearing, claiming that facing the family of his victim would “harm his mental health” and the proceedings were carried out behind closed doors.
On December 13 of the same year it was eventually determined that he would not be considered for release as the Parole Board ruled he still posed a severe threat to children.
