MPs urge government to 'lay out facts' in James Bulger case

Jon Venables was denied parole in December, 2023

The government has been urged by MPs to hold a public inquiry into the murder of two-year-old James Bulger.

The toddler was kidnapped and tortured by two 10-year-old boys in 1993.

A debate was triggered six years after 213,000 people signed a petition calling for answers as to why one of his killers, Jon Venables, was freed and went on to commit more offences.

The government has said a full inquiry is "not necessary".

James was led away from the New Strand shopping centre in Bootle by Venables and his accomplice, Robert Thompson, while his mum, Denise Fergus, paid for her shopping.

Venables served eight years of his life sentence before being freed on licence.

James Bulger was two when he was abducted and killed in 1993

Both killers were handed new identities protected by a court injunction ordering life-time anonymity.

Venables has repeatedly re-offended, and the petition called for questions to be asked about Venables's time in the prison system, and why experts believed he had been rehabilitated when he was released.

Paula Barker, Labour MP for Wavertree, told ministers at Westminster Hall on Monday: "If there is nothing to see here, let us have all the facts laid bare."

Ms Barker said "even after Hillsborough" the "penny does not seem to have dropped" that victims should be afforded greater transparency.

• Bulger killer Jon Venables' parole bid fails

• James Bulger's mum 'shocked' about parole hearing

• Bulger killer Venables recalled to prison

She added: "To lose a child in such circumstances should never happen, for his family to still be fighting for justice 31 years later should never have to happen, and it is unbelievably cruel."

Sir George Howarth, Labour MP for Knowsley, also called for a public inquiry and suggested the government's response on how the transparency of the Parole Board's decisions could be improved has been "overly defensive and vague".

Mr Howarth said: "There's a feeling, which Denise and other family members have, that they haven't been taken seriously when they've raised concerns, and there are things that should be done to expose what's gone wrong."

He added: "The government in their response to the petition initially ruled out a public inquiry, and I think that would be the best way of doing it, to be perfectly honest, as does, I think, Denise and the other family members.

"But if he came up with an alternative proposal, which would do the same thing, then we'd certainly, I'm sure, look at it."

'Danger to children'

Venables was released on licence in July 2001 and recalled to prison in February 2010 after indecent images of children were found on his computer.

He was freed in August 2013 and then recalled to prison in November 2017 for the same offence and jailed for three years and four months.

In December last year, the Parole Board made the decision not to release Venables from jail because he continued to pose a danger to children and could go on to offend again.

Jess Phillips, Labour MP for Birmingham, Yardley, said the "standard of communication" which should have been afforded to Mrs Fergus "has not been delivered", and raised concerns about the treatment of other parents in similar situations.

She added: "The point of having public inquiry and truth and justice seeking reviews, isn't just for retribution, isn't just to satisfy and tick a box for a grieving family, it is to ensure that our systems are correct."

Justice minister Edward Argar said: "While I do fully appreciate the significant concerns that have been expressed and indeed the strength and sincerity of the feelings on this issue, I am not in a position today to announce a public inquiry, though I appreciate that will be disappointing."

Mr Argar offered to meet with Sir George and other MPs to discuss the issue further, but added: "I don't want to raise expectations that I can't meet, and I don't intend to do that, but I will have a conversation."