Denise Fergus, the mother of James Bulger, has issued an urgent appeal for information following the vandalism of her son’s grave. James, who was only two years old when he was brutally murdered in February 1993 by ten-year-olds Jon Venables and Robert Thompson, has had his resting place desecrated in what Fergus believes to be a deliberate act.
Fergus shared her devastating discovery on social media, recounting how she learned about the damage from a passerby. “Today I felt my heart break once again,” she wrote. “We got a message from a lady walking her dog at the cemetery where James’s resting place is. She sadly told us his headstone and surround had been vandalised.” Upon arriving at the cemetery, Fergus found that the cherub sculptures flanking the headstone had been smashed to pieces.
“I need to find whoever has done this to my son’s resting place,” she continued. “I try to help as many families as I can with either justice campaigns or helping families through the charity I set up in his memory, and some horrid b****** has done this… to a baby’s grave! Really?”
Fergus urged anyone with information about the incident to contact Merseyside Police or reach out through her charity’s page. She believes the vandalism occurred between 10:00 and 15:30 on the day she discovered the damage and emphasized the importance of sharing her post to help identify the perpetrators.
Photographs taken at the scene show that the heads of two stone angels positioned in front of the headstone have been vandalised, leaving the sculptures headless and the broken pieces abandoned on the ground. This shocking act has reignited ongoing discussions about the treatment of victims and their families in the wake of crime.
Earlier this year, Denise also condemned the decision to grant Venables another parole hearing. Since being released on licence in July 2001, Venables has faced multiple recalls to prison for offences related to indecent images of children. He was freed again in August 2013, only to be recalled in November 2017, receiving a sentence of three years and four months for the same crime.
Denise has been permitted to attend one of Venables’ hearings, a significant moment as it marks the first time she will hear his voice in three decades. She will participate via video link from a separate chamber while Venables’ identity remains protected. “It is distressing and frankly makes me angry that I’ve now been told that James’ killer will be afforded a parole hearing and a chance of release,” she stated in an interview with the Daily Mirror.
Fergus expressed concern about Venables’ potential release, commenting on the risks he may face in the outside world. “He’s not a ten-year-old anymore. He’s bigger, he’s stronger, he’s got more wits about him. My worry is that if he’s released, he’ll lose that protection; he’ll be looking over his shoulder the whole time,” she said.
Denise’s ongoing fight for justice and her dedication to supporting families affected by crime continues to draw attention, underscoring the emotional toll such tragedies have on victims’ families. Anyone with information regarding the recent vandalism of James Bulger’s grave is encouraged to contact Merseyside Police at 101 or call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously at 0800 555 111.
