Venables & Thomson

[angeldraws]

Following on from Stevie1times thread below (tho' not in defence - or judgement of the thread) -

How would you feel if you were their parents?
a) about the killing of James Bulger
b) about their being given new identities/lives?

[Ice.Maiden]

If a child of mine even got into trouble for stealing, let alone a gruesome murder, I'd expect them to be punished accordingly. The parents of these two horrific young men must've gone through many emotions, but in their place, I'd wonder what sort of child I'd bred, and I'd be forever worried that they might do it again one day.
I can appreciate why the parents of Venables & Thomson might be given new identities, but if Sarah's Law comes into full force, everyone's going to know where the young men are soon, anyway - and people don't forget.

[ethanryan]

i agree with ice. lets hope sarahs law does come into force

[aims1202]

It is impossible to know how we would feel if we were their parents. We can only try to imagine how we would feel if our children did such a thing. Most of us can probably say that are children are unlikely to because they feel loved, are happy, safe, secure and children who experience these things do not commit such horrific acts of violence against other children.
How do we know their parents cared at all, they might have been glad to get rid of them. They might believe, as some, do that they were born evil and it had nothing to do with them as their parents. This might have been because they had had little love themselves and were unable to give their children what they needed.
Thats why in order to prevent things like this happening we have to look at why those children did it, why they wanted to, what happened in their lives. Its especially important in the first 3 years, when they need to be nurtured in a warm, caring home in order for their brain to develop properly, in order to develop empathy. Then we need to help, support and educate the parents who cannot do this before its too late.
The answer is not to have the death penalty or longer sentences, that does not make a damaged child, full of rage change their mind about doing it.

[Ice.Maiden]

You make some very good points aims. I've no idea whether Vanables & Thomson were loved and cared for, although the latter's open to debate, but having 2 children of my own, I DO know that I'd want them to pay the pirice of they committed a serious offence.
I aloso believe in capiltal punishment for premeditated and serial murders, but that's another discussion.

[meglet]

Sarah's Law relates specifically to paedophiles doesn't it i.e. details from the sex offenders register being accessed by locals? So it won't be relevant to these two.

[Ice.Maiden]

Not sure meglet, only I believe sexual abuse was incorporated in the toture of that poor child - which didn't make the elder boys paedophiles as such, but would certainly do so if they were to re-offend in later life, in a similar way. I don't think age should come into it anyway. A true Megan's Law should allow all concerned parents and carers to have access to details of anyone committing a crime involving anything sexual towards a child.

[daffy654]

The sexual abuse inflicted on James Bulger consisted of batteries being inserted into him anally. The b******ds should be hanged.

[Le Chat]

My friend lived very close to either Venables or Thomson, in West Derby, Liverpool (can't remember which one) She told me that he was definitely odd...not the 'full shilling' and his parents couldn't give a rats about what he was up to....So I think that can shed light on one of the excellent points raised by aims.

[jackthehat]

daffy..............the batteries were in his mouth.
Please trouble yourself to find out the truth before your post.
I am not trying to diminsh the terrible crime they commited but even all these years later the incident is surrounded with misinformation and hysteria.

I believe that V & T's parents are now fully aware of the damage that indifferent parenting can cause. And perhaps it is too much to hope that it made other parents sit up and think about just how well they were doing the most important job there is.

[anderlee]

I'm reading the book by mark thomas. One boy was neglected by his mother and the other 'seemed' to be cared for by his parents but had learning and behavioural difficulties and did show a mean streak. Then they ended up in the same class and the rest is just awful. I would be devastated if that was my child who killed another, but then im a caring loving parent.

[daffy654]

The book I read that was written by one of the psychologists appointed by the police to interview the boys stated that they inserted the batteries anally and that this fact was never released to the public or press. I apologise if the man lied in his book but I can only go by what I read.

[chazza]

I read that the bit about the batteries was made up in a chain letter / email that went around, they also stated incorrectly that they cut his fingers off with scissors.

What was the name of the book that stated that this happened with the batteries?

[daffy654]

I can't remember what the bloody book was called.I read it years ago and no longer have it.All I know is it was written by a man who was a psycholgist on the case,it made me cry a lot and it was a hardback.
Whatever the actual facts of the batteries bit the little sh1ts should still have hanged for all the other things they did that day to an innocent toddler.

[Ice.Maiden]

Sorry - I can't bear to think about what that poor little boy went through. I didn't hear anything about the use of batteries, but I remember reading something once, to the effect that he'd been at least partially stripped and abused. I really don't want to know any details. The murder of James, and any child upsets me. I agree with Daffy.

[123everton]

I used to work with one their uncles, he was a thoroughly decent bloke.

[123everton]

I had'nt read the other posts, firstly I think Thompson and Venables lived in Walton Village and secondly it's common knowledge around here that the batteries were inserted anally (I think it was in the Echo of the time) I had an ex who lived a few hundred yards from where he was found and she said the same thing.

[aims1202]

If those boys sexually abused James Bulgur then there is no doubt in my mind that they, either one or both of them had been sexually abused themselves. For a ten year old to do that means they would have experienced something like it themselves or they just would not do it.
Someone said they knew one of their uncles and he was a nice bloke. He may well have been, he was not their parent. But also remember that there are plenty of child abusers who appear to be nice people.

[daffy654]

The book I read intimated that the thing with the batteries(wherever they were inserted) was to bring James Bulger back to life. My fiance thinks that slant may have been put on it to make Venables and Thomson look very immature and possibly mentally ill to reduce whatever sentence they got.