08/03/2010

'Horns Of A Dilemma' Over Bulger Killer

Justice Secretary Jack Straw will not reveal why one of toddler James Bulger's murderers was returned to jailed.

Jon Venables' licence was revoked after he broke the terms of his release.

It has not been made public what Venables did to breach his parole.

Mr Straw said it was not be in the interest of fair justice to divulge the reasoning for the killer's imprisonment.

He said there was a risk of prejudicing criminal proceedings if details of the "serious allegations" were open to public consumption.

Mr Straw had earlier said he was on the "horns of a dilemma" over whether to disclose the allegations.

Venables has not been charged over any crime, but is the subject of a police investigation.

Today James's mother Denise Fergus called for more details on the case.

She told ITV's This Morning the latest episode had left her "very emotional".

"I have had sleepless nights and I am not eating again - I have had to pull my kids out of school," said Ms Fergus.

"It is just one massive rollercoaster again for me."

Venables, along with Robert Thompson, kidnapped 2-year-old James from a Merseyside shopping centre in 1993.

The pair - both aged 10 - brutally beat and tortured the toddler before leaving his dead body on train tracks.

Both were given new identities when they were released from prison in 2001.

A strict gagging order was placed on the press from reporting their names or whereabouts.

(PR/BMcC)

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