'Tell us the allegations against Venables' - James Bulger's mother

Denise Fergus

The mother of murdered toddler James Bulger has challenged Jack Straw to end speculation and rumours over new allegations against her son's killer.

Denise Fergus also called-on the Government to "stop protecting a criminal" after claims Jon Venables had been given "yellow card" warnings for earlier breaches of parole.

Mother-of-three, Denise wants the Government to take legal steps to lift the anonymity Venables was granted when he was released on parole five years ago.

The Justice Department and Probation Service are refusing to disclose the nature of the new allegations against Venables, claiming it could lead to him being identified.

But after newspaper claims that Venables committed a sex crime Denise said the order masking his identity should be lifted.

She wants the order made by Dame Justice Elizabeth Butler Sloss in 2001, giving Venables lifetime anonymity to be quashed.

Venables, and his schoolpal Robert Thompson, were both aged 10 when they snatched James from a shopping centre at Bootle in 1993. They led him to a lonely railway line where they, stoned kicked and finally battered him to death.

After being jailed for life Venables was released on licence and with a new identity in 2001. He was ordered not to return to Merseyside, among a series of other conditions.

The further revelations about his behaviour come after it emerged last week that the killer was recalled to custody for breaching his licence.

Denise, 42, said: "They should stop protecting this man who should now be treated as adult and if he is accused of a crime he must be subject to the law like everyone else.

"Jack Straw should go to the High Court, as Justice Secretary, and get a judge to lift the Butler-Sloss order that shields Venables.

"If Venables has committed a sex assault he should be brought before a court under own name and be tried, in public.

"Breaching his parole should be an end to the anonymity that he was granted on the excuse that he committed a murder as a child."

Denise said she was disappointed that Jack Straw had announced through the press that he would agree to her written request for a meeting.

She is also unimpressed that the only contact she had from the Justice Department was a promise of "We'll get back to you on Monday".

Denise said that the growing number of rumours over Venables should be silenced by Jack Straw disclosing the true nature of the allegations against Venables.

She said: "Mr Straw is hiding behind the excuse that he cannot prejudice an investigation and the course of justice.

"An official announcement from the police on the nature of the alleged offence would not prejudice any case. It happens every day of the week with others, so why not Venables?

"I do not know what to believe and that is adding to the torment for me. It is time to end the secrecy and rumours. We need the truth."

Denise said she hopes to meet Jack Straw as soon as possible.

Denise added: "I'm angry and annoyed that Mr Straw was not prepared to say that he would meet me until the press forced his hand.

"This conspiracy between the Government, the courts and a criminal is disgusting and an insult to justice.

"There is no reason why they should not say on suspicion of what offence he has been arrested.

"I am also determined to discover on how many previous occasions he has been let off with a 'yellow card" for breaches of his parole. I should have been told every time he received a warning.

"I don't want Venables put into a dock under a false name with a jury not knowing his background until after the trial is over.

"If Venables is going to be in court I want to be there to see justice done.

"He is not some kind of celebrity but that is still the way they are treating him.

"If he has done a crime he should be tried as Jon Venables and if convicted he should go to jail as Jon Venables.

"He should then live the rest of his life under that name.

"The full truth must come out. If he is a danger he needs to be dealt with just the same as any other dangerous criminal.

"If he has committed a serious new crime as an adult he has lost the right to anonymity and he should face the full consequences."

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