James Bulger killer Jon Venables’ parole hearing could now be held in public

JAMES Bulger’s killer’s parole hearing could be in public, it has emerged.

Jon Venables’ latest bid for release from prison was to be held in private, and could see him out before Christmas.

Handout

Murderer Jon Venables could have a public hearing[/caption]

PA:Press Association

The parents of murdered James Bulger want Venables to have a ‘transparent’ hearing[/caption]

However an anonymous applicant lodged a bid for the two-day hearing to be open to the public.

The Parole Board last night confirmed it is “being considered”.

Venables and Robert Thompson, both 10, were locked up for two-year-old James’ murder in Bootle, Merseyside, in 1993 before being freed at 18.

Venables, now 40 and with a new identity, has since twice been jailed over child sex abuse images.

He was denied parole in 2020.

A source said James’ parents Ralph Bulger, 55, and Denise Fergus, 54, want the November hearing to be “transparent”.

They added: “They fear a whitewash if it’s behind closed doors and feel the public has the right to know what is going on.”

Venables is likely to appear via video link with a blurred face and distorted voice.

The Ministry of Justice said the Justice Secretary is “giving this case his close personal attention”.