Jamie Bulger killer's parole hearing to be held in private

Jon Venables, the convicted child murderer, will have his upcoming parole hearing conducted behind closed doors despite a request from the mother of his victim to hold it publicly. Venables was responsible for the brutal torture and murder of two-year-old James Bulger in 1993. Now 44 years old, Venables is set to appear before the Parole Board for an oral hearing, which follows more than two years since his previous parole application.

Denise Fergus, James Bulger’s mother, had urged that the parole hearing be made public. She argued that transparency would help counteract widespread “misinformation” surrounding the case, which she said caused her additional trauma. Ordinarily, parole hearings are private, but can be opened to the public when deemed necessary “in the interests of justice.” Several media outlets had also requested that the hearing be open to the public.

However, the Parole Board disagreed with these calls for transparency, citing concerns for Venables’ safety. The Board explained that holding a public hearing would likely make it challenging for Venables to testify, given the risk of those in attendance seeking information that could be used to harm him. The decision prioritized his security over public access in this instance.

In a prior evaluation in 2023, the Parole Board refused Venables’ parole request, concluding that he remained a threat to children and was at risk of reoffending. This latest hearing comes at a time when the balance between public interest and the protection of individuals involved in high-profile cases continues to be carefully considered

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