Public inquiry into James Bulger murder refused by government claiming it is ‘not necessary’

THERE will be no public inquiry into the murder of James Bulger after the Government deemed it “not necessary”.

A petition calling for one had amassed 190,000 signatures.

Those behind it claimed “a number of issues” relating to the case have been “swept under the carpet” including concerns over the Parole Board’s decision to allow Jon Venables to be released on license.

He was jailed for 40 months for a sick haul of child abuse images earlier this month.

A Government statement said: “The offender was convicted of further offences as a direct result of robust and effective monitoring.

“Therefore the Government considers that a public inquiry into this tragic case is not necessary.”

Two-year-old James Bulger was abducted in Merseyside on February 12, 1993 - and tortured and killed by Venables and Robert Thompson.

The petition petition titled We Want A Public Inquiry Into The James Bulger Murder Case was backed by James' mother Denise Fergus.

The Government's response in full states: "The murder of Jamie Bulger was an appalling crime which shocked the nation and, 25 years on, continues to be of huge interest and concern.

"Our deepest sympathies remain with Mrs Fergus and Mr Bulger for the pain and suffering they have endured.

"Because this case has been of such understandable concern, when the man formerly known as Jon Venables was recalled to custody in February 2010, the then Justice Secretary asked Sir David Omand, the former Permanent Secretary at the Home Office, to conduct an extensive review of the management of Venables from the time of his release from Red Bank Secure Children’s Home in 2001 until his recall to custody.

"In July 2010 Venables was convicted of possessing, downloading and sharing indecent images of children, and Sir David’s detailed report was published in November 2010."

"The Parole Board is legally not allowed to share the reasons behind any of its release decisions, but the Government last month announced an urgent review into how to increase the transparency of Parole-Board decision-making and whether and how it might be possible to challenge those decisions.

"Unlike in 2010, Jon Venables’ recent criminal acts were discovered as a direct result of the tight monitoring to which he was subject by the Police and Probation Services.

"He has also constantly been subject to stricter licence conditions and more scrutiny than most lifers would be at the same stage of their sentence.

"For that reason, a review of the management of Venables since 2010 would not have the same clear focus."

Denise recently revealed that she still sets an empty chair at the dinner table in memory of her murdered son.

She said her son would "always be with me" - also reliving the moment she lost him in a Liverpool shopping centre after letting go of his hand to pay in a shop.

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368 . We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.