The mother of murdered James Bulger believes she is a step closer to justice for her beloved son after a landmark meeting with Justice Secretary Dominic Raab.
The crunch talks were the first time that Denise Fergus has been granted an audience with a senior politician since two-year-old James’s horrific killing.
In an emotional interview, the grieving mum said she feels “listened to at last”.
Denise wanted the urgent meeting with Mr Raab to ask him to intervene in a parole hearing which could result in Jon Venables – one of the two boys who killed James in 1993 – being released from prison. She also wanted to discuss her petition calling for an inquiry into the killing that shocked Britain.
Denise thanked the Sunday Mirror and our readers for supporting her bid to meet Mr Raab – who praised her courage. In an exclusive interview, the mum of five says: “Going down to the meeting, I was very nervous as I didn’t know what was going to be said.
“I knew time was running out and this was our chance. I hope this is a step closer to getting some justice for my son James. For the first time in many years someone actually wanted to listen and not just brush me off. I’m so relieved.
“After 29 years seeking justice for James, I left the meeting knowing I’d been listened to and understood.”
On May 1, Denise told us how she had only two weeks to submit a vital victim impact statement, which could keep Venables – who had twice previously reoffended – behind bars.
Two weeks later, the family and the Mirror won a victory when Mr Raab agreed to meet her.
And now, days after the Westminster showdown, Denise, 53, says: “I can’t thank the Sunday Mirror and their readers enough for backing me to get to this point. I really appreciate it.”
Denise has maintained what she calls a “defence mode” since James was killed. But the meeting was so positive that she felt able to lower her guard and has arranged to remain in contact with Deputy PM Mr Raab.
She says the talks left her feeling “overwhelmed in a good way”, adding: “On the way home on the train, I just kept thinking that someone had finally listened to me. I left with a feeling of hope.”
James was murdered by Venables and Robert Thompson – both aged 10 – in February 1993. They grabbed the boy from a shopping centre in Bootle, Merseyside, after his mum let go of his hand for a second.
The killers dragged him two miles to a rail line where they tortured and battered him to death. They were convicted of murder in November 1993 and ordered to be detained indefinitely – but were released aged 18 in 2001 with new identities. Thompson, 39, has not reoffended.
But Venables was sent back to jail in 2010 and 2017 after being caught with child sex abuse images on his computer. He was turned down for parole in 2020 but has made a new bid for freedom. His hearing is set for August.
It means Denise had to submit a heartrending victim impact statement appealing for him to be kept behind bars. Denise says: “Every time there is Parole Board news, it brings the same feelings back, the same dark place. I can’t get away from it. But what keeps me going is getting justice for James and keeping one of his killers behind bars.”
Mr Raab has publicly stated he wants to be able to intervene on high-risk offenders’ parole hearings. Denise previously urged him “to do everything in his power to intervene” and prevent other families “potentially suffering” at Venables’ hands.
At Wednesday’s meeting, Denise and husband Stuart were joined by Kym Darby, chair of the James Bulger Memorial Trust.
Denise adds: “Since handing in the victim impact statement it has felt out of my hands. I put so much into it. I had been keeping notes for the statement for weeks and added these in with some other thoughts that just came from my heart. I gave the best reasoning James’s killer must stay in prison. There is no more I can add to it now.
“But the waiting is hard. I put together some key notes before the meeting with help from Stuart, who went through the Ormand Review from 2010, which looked at how James’s killer was allowed to reoffend. I kept reading them on the train journey down.”
Denise – mum to sons Michael, Thomas and Leon, and daughter Kirsty – says she felt quite calm until the moment she arrived at Parliament.
She says: “That is when it hit. The nerves, the importance of it all for James. Most of the last 29 years I’ve felt I’ve had to be in defence mode. This time it just felt different, I felt a little excited, if I’m honest, along with the nerves.
“It was a huge thing for me. In the past I have had to be content with phone calls with certain MPs who never had the time or didn’t want to meet with me.”
Denise says Mr Raab, accompanied by senior officials, was very hospitable and understood their plight. But due to the sensitive nature of the talks, she cannot disclose what was said.
“I was in there for an hour,” she says. “They made us feel welcome and I was allowed to get all my points across. During the meeting I was thinking, ‘I hope this could be a step closer to getting justice for James’. He is never far from my thoughts anyway, but especially during that meeting.
“But this isn’t just about James, this is for all the victims who have to go through the Parole Board procedure, just like we had to endure. We met face-to-face so I could tell him about the effect the parole hearing is having on us as a family.
“I am reassured to know that this is being taken seriously and, although there is still a long road ahead, I want to thank Dominic Raab for recognising what this means to us.
“It was also pleasing to hear about his plan to reform the parole system. I hope that will play an important role in protecting other families from going through what we have. I can’t thank Dominic and his team enough for agreeing to meet us.”
Mr Raab said of the talks: “Thank you, Denise, for your courage. I can’t begin to imagine what you’ve been through over so many years. I was very moved to meet you, and you strengthened my resolve to reform the Parole Board.”
