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File photo of murdered toddler Jamie Bulger. PA

Jamie Bulger killer released from prison

Jon Venables had been locked up in 2010 for downloading images of child abuse.

ONE OF THE killers of Jamie Bulger, the two-year-old boy whose torture and murder shocked Britain 20 years ago, has been released from prison for a second time, sources said today.

Jon Venables, 31, was freed from prison after being locked up in 2010 for downloading images of child abuse.

Venables had previously served eight years for murdering two-year-old James in Liverpool, northwest England, in 1993.

Because of the sensitivity of the case, the killer has reportedly been given his fourth new identity at a reported cost of €295,000

“He will re-offend”

A friend of the murdered todler’s father said Ralph Bulger believes Venables will commit more crime now he has been released.

“He hasn’t put a time on it but he is convinced he will re-offend,” said the friend, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The toddler’s mother, Denise Fergus, told The Sun newspaper that Venables is “a danger to the public”.

“He lies for his own sick ends,” she said. “I have been told that the terms of his parole mean that he must not enter the county of Merseyside.

“But the Probation Service didn’t monitor him properly last time so I have no faith in their ability to do that now.

“They should’ve kept him locked up for a long time.”

Directed by the parole board

Venables was just 10 years old when he and his friend, Robert Thompson, tortured and murdered James on a railway line after abducting him from a shopping centre.

A Ministry of Justice spokeswoman said: “We do not comment on individual offenders.

“The re-release of life licensed offenders is directed by the independent Parole Board once they are satisfied they can be safely managed in the community.

“Their life licence lasts for the rest of their lives, and they may be recalled to prison at any time for breaching their licence conditions.

“Additionally, they will be subject to strict controls and restrictions for as long as their risk requires them.”

- © AFP 2013.

Related: Jon Venables to be released from prison>

More: Jamie Bulger killer denied parole over child porn conviction>

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    Mute Montys Moonshine
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    Sep 3rd 2013, 11:50 AM

    He should never see daylight again

    247
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    Mute Chopstix
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    Sep 3rd 2013, 11:52 AM

    I’m surprised he lived to see his release date

    133
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    Mute Enola Straight
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    Sep 3rd 2013, 11:57 AM

    A lot to be said for the death penalty.

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    Mute Nidgeweasel
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    Sep 3rd 2013, 12:23 PM

    Dirt bag

    70
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    Mute John Croghan
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    Sep 3rd 2013, 3:14 PM

    I’m sure the Gilford 4 would disagree with the death penalty. They wouldn’t be here today.

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    Mute Snug Head
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    Sep 3rd 2013, 6:33 PM

    Guildford would be the word you were looking for John.

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    Mute grainne heffernan
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    Sep 3rd 2013, 12:04 PM

    Personally I think if any one could do that at 10 they will do it again or show signs of other dangerous behaviour. Anyone charged and served time for a murder of this degree should have to wear a tracker for the rest of their life. People should be able to see if these people are living in their locality. Maybe im wrong But if there was a child killer/peadophile living near me I should know about it.

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    Mute Shirley Boshell
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    Sep 3rd 2013, 1:06 PM

    I find it hard to believe he has been rehabilitated, and while I can understand on a certain level why he would be given a new identity (vigilantes etc) it also scares the bejesus out of me that he could meet a woman with kids with no clue of his past and abuse more innocent children.

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    Mute Andrea Rock Massey
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    Sep 3rd 2013, 2:23 PM

    That is what happened! He was found to be living with a single mother and her children. Another condition of his parole being ignored…

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    Mute Shirley Boshell
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    Sep 3rd 2013, 2:29 PM

    Oh God I didn’t know that. Imagine how that poor woman felt finding out someone capable of such atrocities was sharing your bed. It makes me queasy just thinking about it.

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    Mute Shirley Boshell
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    Sep 3rd 2013, 2:29 PM

    *her bed sorry

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    Mute Stephen Barry
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    Sep 3rd 2013, 12:03 PM

    What they did is still shocking, can’t think of a more evil act.

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    Mute Salvage Guy
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    Sep 3rd 2013, 12:10 PM

    I’ll always remember when the news broke of that story. There are no words to describe what they both did to Jamie Bulger.

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    Mute Tim Higgins
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    Sep 3rd 2013, 12:28 PM

    His name was James not Jamie. It used to upset his mother when the media got it wrong. Still raw in my mind, If it was my son I would be glad to see the killers released so I could have a little word with them! And then off to jail with me.

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    Mute Catherine Sims
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    Sep 3rd 2013, 2:51 PM

    I did not know that Tim thanks . Apologies for using Jamie instead of James. Least we can do is get his name right.

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    Mute Michelle Mc Loughney
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    Sep 3rd 2013, 12:34 PM

    Although both boys were horrors, he seems the worst, first thing he did on release was abuse more kids through child porn. Hope the next story on him is that he is found dead in the gutter.

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    Mute Paul Radburn
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    Sep 3rd 2013, 12:19 PM

    A hitman can be very useful in certain circumstances! If it was my child, that s*umbag wouldn’t be alive right now.

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    Mute guardian
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    Sep 3rd 2013, 12:49 PM

    Yeah everyone says that and funny thing they are all still alive

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    Mute Andrea Rock Massey
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    Sep 3rd 2013, 2:25 PM

    Nobody knows what they look like or what their names are now. They have had their identities changed!

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    Mute Catherine Sims
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    Sep 3rd 2013, 12:44 PM

    Jamie Bulger is still dead though. Why does this man get to have a life when he took Jamie’s.

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    Mute Graham Browne
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    Sep 3rd 2013, 12:06 PM

    Someone will recognise him and someone will punish him correctly.

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    Mute Matt Connolly
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    Sep 3rd 2013, 12:37 PM

    Like the poor lad who was mistaken for him, hounded, and ended up taking his own life?

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    Mute Graham Browne
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    Sep 3rd 2013, 12:42 PM

    NO.

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    Mute guardian
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    Sep 3rd 2013, 12:47 PM

    What a silly society to leave a person with deep rooted desire to torture and abuse kids out of prison after murder. Child himself or not. But to then let him back out when he shows sexual interest in kids. In his head his fantasy is to rape and murder more children. To wprnd over million pounds to give this turd new identities every time he flouts the law. How stupid.

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    Mute YourName
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    Sep 3rd 2013, 12:29 PM

    And therein lies the fallacy of the UK and our own ‘justice’ system. Life should mean life. Take a leaf out of the Americans book with their 100+ year sentences.

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    Mute chateau nove de pope
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    Sep 3rd 2013, 1:08 PM

    Child murderer , in possession of child pornography , now deemed fit to walk the streets ….. I don’t think so

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    Mute celtic_doom
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    Sep 3rd 2013, 12:08 PM

    He will be back behind bars within the year…

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    Mute james doyle
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    Sep 3rd 2013, 12:17 PM

    The story of what they did to that poor boy still turns my stomach,I have a boy the same age as James,pure evil sums it up,why is he keep been released for and his only going to offend again

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    Mute Richard Connell
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    Sep 3rd 2013, 1:12 PM

    He should be picked up and dropped Into one of the infamous Liverpool estates and this should then be circulated via media apps. See how he likes a bit of torture!!!!

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    Mute Michelle Bierney
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    Sep 3rd 2013, 1:38 PM

    Is it going to take another innocent child dying at the hands of this monster to keep him locked up for life ?? They should never see the light of day.

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    Mute Ashleigh Moynan
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    Sep 3rd 2013, 3:54 PM

    Only 8 years for murdering a child? That is ridiculous!

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    Mute Donna McCabe
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    Sep 3rd 2013, 5:51 PM

    His 4th identity !!! to “protect him ” hes a grown man ffs !!! Hope he has a horrific death soon at the hands of some other monster just like him !!!! Hes bad to the core !!!!

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    Mute Joan Featherstone
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    Sep 3rd 2013, 5:32 PM

    Breaks my heart every time I see this little darlings face and think of the awful things that were done to him…his poor parents too, tortured for life thinking of his end, I think I would have cracked of it were my son, I couldn’t handle it, too horrific.

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    Mute Tim Higgins
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    Sep 3rd 2013, 6:24 PM

    I hear you! Poor little guy.

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    Mute Paul Tydings
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    Sep 3rd 2013, 2:26 PM

    Don’t mean this in a funny way but the movie law abiding citizan springs to mind .. .. my god of that was my little boy that Happened don’t know what I’d do. . You like to think we live in a world that you get one chance when it comes to crimes like this. .. If you do it you get locked away for life in a single cell. Not this rehabilitation bull shit .. He should be locked away for life in single cell feed with water and crap food. No sun and no Luxury s. F… His human right he lost those when he they did what they did. .. 4 th idenity 285 000 that’s a joke to his family and Jamie. ..

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    Mute Paul Tydings
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    Sep 3rd 2013, 2:27 PM

    Of law does not do it I see situations where people will. .. I would

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    Mute Cassie Reyer
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    Sep 3rd 2013, 4:06 PM

    Makes me sick that he is free

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    Mute Denis McDermott
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    Sep 3rd 2013, 1:49 PM

    Anyone what became of the other killer Robert Thompson? Is he a free man too and if so, do the police keep tabs on him?

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    Mute Denis McDermott
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    Sep 3rd 2013, 1:50 PM

    *anyone know*

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    Mute Anne-Marie O'Connor Sullivan
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    Sep 3rd 2013, 2:09 PM

    Hi, as far as I remember, when Jon Venables was rearrested, information about Robert Thompson surfaced. Apparently he is in a stable long term relationship with another man. His partner is aware of his former identity and crimes. This is part of the terms of their licenced release. If Jon was to form a meaningful relationship with someone, they would be informed also. A point of note though, at the time of James’s murder the press, police, psychiatrist’s etc all thought that Robert was the leader and Jon was like a sheep following him, yet look at they are now. I can’t understand a world where he is out again.

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    Mute Aoife Keane
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    Sep 4th 2013, 12:14 PM

    If he was jailed for child pornography he should be on the sex offenders register. How does that work if he has a new identity?? Public are entitled to know if there is a sex offender nearby and who they are

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    Mute Dhakina's Sword
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    Sep 4th 2013, 12:59 AM

    Just why are dangerous paedophiles who have not changed released into the community?

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    Mute Northpole-paddy
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    Sep 3rd 2013, 6:57 PM

    Thought he was locked up in ireland?
    One of those guys were so i hear from a screw a while back!

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