Do the right thing & keep Venables away from kids like James

Mum's plea to child killer's parole board

- BEN GRIFFITHS

THE mother of murder victim James Bulger today pleads with parole board chiefs to reject killer Jon Venables’ bid for freedom, saying: “He’s a monster.”

In an impassioned plea ahead of tomorrow’s hearing, Denise Fergus calls on the board to “please, please, make the right call and keep Venables away from other kids like James”.

Denise, whose two-year-old son was tortured and murdered by Venables and Robert Thompson in 1993 when they were 10 years old, told how she would “crumble” if he was released back onto the streets.

Denise, 54, said: “Tomorrow is one of the biggest days ever in our fight for justice for James. It feels like D-Day.

“I’m anxious and it’s been hard not to think of much else because the importance of this week is so great.

“Our fate is in the hands of parole board bosses, so I beg them to make the right decision for everyone and keep my son’s killer behind bars.

“Venables has had so many chances in the past and he’s blown them all. He doesn’t care. He seriously doesn’t care about anybody.”

In a direct message to the parole board, she said: “Look into my eyes and see what I’ve had to deal with for 30 years – three decades of hell.

“Keep people safe from this monster, because that is what he is, and don’t give him what he wants.

“If he goes on to commit more crimes after you release him, it will be on your shoulders. So I’m just asking you to do the right thing.”

She predicts a national outcry if Venables, now 41, is given parole.

Denise said: “If they do release him I dread to think what will happen. I’ll probably initially crumble and then I’ll be on the warpath.