Talk Today host Nicola Thorp reduced to tears as James Bulger’s dad weeps over fears his son’s killer will be released
TALK TV host Nicola Thorp was reduced to tears as James Bulger’s dad wept over the possibility his son’s killer will be released.
The new Talk Today presenter’s eyes welled up as she heard Ralph describe his 30 years of pain since his son murder.
Venables, 40, will go before a parole panel on November 14 for a two-day hearing — likely to be held behind closed doors.
It represents a potential last chance of release for Venables, who was freed with a new identity but has twice been recalled to jail.
In an emotional interview on TalkTV this morning, Ralph told Jeremy Kyle and Nicola Thorp that the killer is “a ticking time bomb” if he is not kept locked up and that “every child is at risk.”
Ralph explained how he copes with the horror of the tragedy, thirty years on.
He said: “You sort of have to keep it back. It’s hard, but it’s something I find if I keep my head into work, those memories don’t come flooding back, what happened.”
Jeremy asked: “How did you survive? How did you get through those days?”
Ralph replied: “Just go day by day. You’ve just got to go one foot in front of the other and just do the best you can.”
Ms Thorp’s eyes began to well up with tears as she told him his “strength really shines through”.
Ralph has called on Justice Secretary Alex Chalk to attend the parole hearing, and tell Venables that he should never be freed
He explained of his campaigning: “I think you’ve got to do everything you can to try and keep him behind bars, because he’s been a danger from day one.
“He’s reoffended. To me, I think he enjoys what he’s doing. He’s a ticking time bomb, just waiting to go off, in my opinion.”
He continued: “Every child in my opinion, is at risk while he’s out.”
Venables and co-killer Robert Thompson were ten when they abducted two-year-old James from his mother Denise’s side at a shopping centre in Bootle, Merseyside, in February 1993.
They abused and tortured him and his body was found on a railway track two days later.
The killers were 11 when they were convicted of the murder but they were released from a secure juvenile detention unit at 18.
Venables and Thompson — who has not re-offended — were given lifelong anonymity.
Venables was recalled to prison in 2010 and 2018 for having child sex abuse images.
He last appealed for a parole hearing in 2020 but was refused.
It comes as a new Victims and Prisoners Bill is going through parliament, which would give the Justice Secretary the final say on whether or not repeat offenders can be freed.
James’ dad Ralph has called on Justice Secretary Alex Chalk to attend the parole hearing, and tell Venables that he should never be freed