Jon Venables, one of the killers of two-year-old James Bulger, has failed in his latest bid for parole after the Parole Board ruled he remains a danger to children. Venables, now in his 40s, was 10 when he and Robert Thompson abducted, tortured, and murdered James in Bootle, Merseyside, in 1993.
The Parole Board's report stated that releasing Venables would not be safe for the public, citing concerns over his long-term sexual interest in children and his history of viewing indecent images. Venables was released on licence in 2001 but recalled in 2010 and again in 2017 for possessing child abuse images.
James's father, Ralph Bulger, and uncle, Jimmy Bulger, expressed relief at the decision but criticised the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) for being 'hostile' ahead of the hearing. They raised concerns that a memorandum detailing the sexual element of James's murder was never presented to the Parole Board panel.
Justice Secretary Alex Chalk welcomed the decision, stating, 'Public protection is our number one priority.' Venables will be eligible for another parole review in approximately two years.
