'Trampling over his grave': James Bulger's dad is 'absolutely raging' as Jon Venables is granted a private parole hearing

From the Newshound archive · first published 4 October 2026 · last updated 5 October 2026.

Ralph Bulger, 59, says the Parole Board has treated his murdered son James's family like "rubbish" by refusing to open Jon Venables's latest freedom bid to the public. The board ruled a private hearing was necessary because a public sitting would make it harder for the 44-year-old to give evidence and could expose him to those seeking to identify and kill him. Ralph urged Prime Minister Andy Burnham to block Venables's release if the board "buckles" to his appeal.

Venables's 2023 parole bid was rejected after the board concluded he remained a danger to children.

James's mother, Denise Fergus, had demanded a public hearing to fight "misinformation" and said it would have made her "finally feel listened to."

Ralph called Venables a "coward and paedophile," saying the system is "all about looking after" the killer while the family is "tossed aside like rubbish."