Denise Fergus, the mother of murdered toddler James Bulger, has expressed her gratitude after more than £23,000 was raised to repair his vandalised grave. The fundraising page on GoFundMe was set up after two marble cherubs were destroyed and a teddy stolen from the grave at Kirkdale Cemetery in Liverpool on 26 February.
The money raised will cover the temporary repair and eventual replacement of the cherubs with new white marble ones, as well as enhanced security. Surplus funds will go to the James Bulger Memorial Trust, which supports other bereaved families and runs a holiday lodge near Blackpool.
Ms Fergus told the Mirror that the vandalism left her “in bits” and that she burst into tears upon seeing the damage. She praised the “army of heroes” who donated, noting that the initial target of £13,000 was exceeded within days, with over 1,700 people contributing, including an anonymous donor who gave £1,000.
Merseyside Police received a report of the damage at 4.20pm on 26 February and believe it occurred between 9am and 3pm that day. Despite a clean-up operation and increased patrols, no arrests have been made. Ms Fergus urged the public to help catch the vandals, saying: “We cannot let this happen again.”
James Bulger was kidnapped, tortured and killed by two 10-year-old boys in February 1993. The restored grave allowed Ms Fergus to visit on what would have been his 31st birthday on 16 March without feeling “totally devastated”.
