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Ralph speaks with searing honesty in this book along with his brother Jimmy who had to identify James's body. How awful that must be for somebody to have to do. Thompson and Venables didn't just kill somebody, they destroyed so many lives. Ralph, Denise, their family, and also the people that saw James with Thompson and Venables but did nothing about it. And why would they have done? Ralph himself assumed that James was safe when he saw him on the CCTV with two older boys. Nobody could have guessed what was to happen. James Bulger being abducted by Thompson (above Bulger) and Venables (holding Bulger's hand) in an image recorded on shopping centre CCTV
Coslett, Paul (25 November 1993). "Lessons of an avoidable tragedy". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 10 May 2017. The detailing as to what went on, lead to and after the murder is captured thoroughly in this book, mostly unemotionally too. The final chapters were not needed in my opinion, it made me feel like the author was sympathetic to the two boys who murdered James, due to their own age, upbringing etc. It left a sour taste to put such a questionable opinion on the why of the crimes, after being so unemotional for 99% of the book. He proves that child murderers are not as unique as we believe by citing historical cases from Victorian times to present day, 1992. This was really an area I knew nothing about so was surprising. The actual abduction of James is chilling. It is very hard to read but the research and detail makes this book skip along at a fast pace. Morrison, Blake (6 February 2003). "Life after James". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 19 March 2014 . Retrieved 15 April 2023. Oscars 2019: James Bulger's mother 'disgusted' over nomination". BBC News. 22 January 2019. Archived from the original on 22 January 2019 . Retrieved 22 January 2019.a b "Bulger killers released: what the home secretary said". BBC. 2 March 2010. Archived from the original on 6 January 2022 . Retrieved 6 March 2010. James Bulger killer picture': James Baines sentenced". BBC News. 27 November 2013. Archived from the original on 30 November 2013 . Retrieved 28 November 2013.
Williams, Zoe. " Jon Venables: how attitudes towards criminality have changed and hardened." The Guardian. 5 July 2013. Laing, Aislinn (10 March 2010). "Bulger killer Jon Venables posed 'trivial' risk to the public, said psychiatrist". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 13 March 2010 . Retrieved 10 March 2010. There seems to be a leaning towards both Venables and Thompson in this book, with very little attention paid to the Bulgers. While this is a interesting stance to take, and i particularly enjoyed his reasoning behind why the crimes where committed, i found there to be a bias towards them.
The Trial
In 2011, the year James would have turned 21, Denise Fergus launches ‘The James Bulger Memorial Trust’. For too long Denise has seen nothing good come from James’ death, so spurred on by Esther Ranzten and the Red Balloon Charity, she’s inspired to help benefit and support young victims of crime, hatred or bullying. Her plans are to reward those who have shown exemplary conduct in helping others. She wants to do this by providing cost-free travel and holiday accommodation for children and families. She creates James Bulger House. Two outwardly unremarkable ten-year-old boys began the day by playing truant and ended it running an errand for the local video shop. In between they abducted and killed a two-year-old boy, James Bulger." Fergus said the support she receives from ordinary people had been invaluable. Writing a book two years ago, with ghostwriter Carly Cook, also helped. Thompson and Venables took Bulger to the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, around 1⁄ 4 mile (400 metres) from the New Strand Shopping Centre, where they dropped him on his head, and he suffered injuries to his face. The boys joked about pushing Bulger into the canal. [9] [17] An eyewitness said that when he saw Bulger at the canal, the boy was "crying his eyes out". [18] The boys went on a 2 + 1⁄ 2-mile (4-kilometre) walk across Liverpool; they were seen by around 38 people, but most bystanders did nothing to intervene. [18] [19] Two people challenged Thompson and Venables, but they either claimed that Bulger was their brother, or that he was lost, and that they were taking him to a police station. [20] At one point, the boys took Bulger into a pet shop, from which they were ejected. [21]
Report finds no probation lapse over Venables images". BBC News. London. 23 November 2010. Archived from the original on 24 November 2010 . Retrieved 23 November 2010. Jon Venables is also 10. His parents divorced when he was three-years-old and together they share joint custody of him and his two siblings. When he appears at the top of the stairs, the police are astounded by his young age and small stature. The police are certain that the boys they’ve just arrested aren’t who they’re looking for. They strongly believe the children are just not capable of such a crime. Demon ears". The Guardian. 21 March 1999. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 13 February 2017 . Retrieved 15 April 2023. Oscars 2019: Bulger mother calls on director to drop out of awards". BBC News. BBC. 24 January 2019. Archived from the original on 26 January 2019 . Retrieved 25 January 2019.
In June 2001, after a six-month review, the parole board ruled the boys were no longer a threat to public safety and could be released, as their minimum tariff had expired in February of that year. Home Secretary David Blunkett approved the decision, and they were released a few weeks later on lifelong licence after serving eight years. [63] [64] It was reported that both boys "were given new identities and moved to secret locations under a ' witness protection'-style programme." [65] This was supported by the fabrication of passports, national insurance numbers, qualification certificates, and medical records. Blunkett added his own conditions to their licence and insisted on being sent daily updates on the boys' actions. [4]
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