After meeting with Dominic Raab to discuss the parole hearing of one of her son’s killers, James Bulger’s mother claims she now has ‘hope.’
Denise Fergus is hoping that the justice secretary would intervene in Jon Venables’ application for a second release from jail.
Venables and Robert Thompson, both 18 years old at the time, were released from prison with new identities in 2001.
However, after being caught with photographs of children being sexually abused, Venables was sent back to prison in 2010 and 2017.
In 2020, he was denied parole, and a fresh hearing is scheduled for August.
Ms Fergus is adamant about keeping Venables in prison, and she submitted a victim impact statement to the parole board in May.
She told the mirror that ‘Since handing in the 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’
‘Every time there is parole board news, it brings the same feelings back, the same dark place. But what keeps me going is getting justice for James.’
Mr Raab agreed to meet with Ms Fergus and her husband Stuart, as well as the chair of the James Bulger Memorial Trust, two weeks after presenting the statement.
The mother of five acknowledged she was ‘very nervous’ before the meeting on Wednesday, but said she felt ‘listened to and understood’ when she was leaving.
‘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,’ she said. ‘For the first time in many years, someone actually wanted to listen and not just brush me off. I left with a feeling of hope.’
James’ parents were able to ‘get all their points across’ at the discussion, which lasted around an hour.
Mr Raab, who is also the deputy prime minister, was extremely welcoming and assured them that the issue was being handled seriously, according to Ms Fergus.
She went on to say that she is seeking justice for ‘all the victims who have to go through the parole board procedure,’ not just her son.
Mr Raab has made it clear that he wants to allow interventions in high-risk criminals’ parole hearings, and he thanked Ms Fergus for ‘strengthening his resolve’ to do this.
Mr Raab said of the meeting: ‘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.’