Bulger parents join vigil

James Bulger's parents oppose the early releases

The parents of murdered toddler James Bulger have attended a vigil organised in memory of their son.

Ralph Bulger and Denise Fergus were among about 200 people in St George's Plateau, in Liverpool, organised by pressure group Mothers Against Murder And Aggression (Mamaa).

They were joined by the families of murder victims from across Britain, including Winnie Johnson, mother of the 12-year-old Moors Murders victim Keith Bennett, and June Richardson, whose son Martin Brown, four, was killed by Mary Bell.

The vigil was organised to raise funds to help Mr Bulger mount a legal challenge against the recent ruling which could mean his son's killers are freed early next year.

James Bulger: Abducted from a shopping centre

It took place the day after it emerged murderers Jon Venables and Robert Thompson could be released without the public knowing.

Lawyers for the pair, who were 10 when they killed the two-year-old in 1993, have spent the week trying to persuade the High Court to grant life-long anonymity to the pair.

James' mother, who seperated from Mr Bulger two years after their son's death, urged Family Division President Dame Elizabeth Butler-Sloss not to grant them anonymity.

Dame Elizabeth is expected to rule on the case before Christmas.

Disappointing turn out

Thompson and Venables, who have both turned 18, hope to win parole early next year following a ruling by the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Woolf, that they had served the minimum tariff necessary under their life sentences.

But the prospect has sparked fury amongst the Bulger family and the wider public, according to Mamaa spokeswoman Lyn Costello.

How dare they call for the right to lead a normal life?

Dee Warner, Mamaa

She said the group had received about 1,000 letters and faxes over the past week opposed to Lord Woolf's decision.

But she was disappointed by the turn-out on Saturday and the group denounced local politicians and leaders for the lack of support.

Mamaa member Dee Warner received a huge round of applause from the crowd as she called for James Bulger's young killers to remain in custody.

Jon Venables could be released early next year

"If they are capable of what they did at 10, then God help us now they are 18," she said.

"They don't deserve any compassion. How dare they call for the right to lead a normal life?"

Mrs Johnson, whose son's body has never been found, demanded the government listen to the families of victims.

"I want peace of mind. I want to find my lad and have him reburied. That will be the biggest day of my life."

Thompson and Venables' lawyers claim their lives would be put at risk if their whereabouts were made public.

Robert Thompson is now 18-years-old

The application for anonymity is being opposed by three newspaper groups.

They are seeking the lifting of a injunction barring publicity about the pair which has operated ever since they were convicted in 1993.

No decision on the date of the killers' release has yet been made.