HAVE YOUR SAY: Shopper Rant - stop protecting Bulger murderers (From News Shopper)

HAVE YOUR SAY: Shopper Rant - stop protecting Bulger murderers

12:30pm Monday 15th March 2010 in

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Welcome to the first of News Shopper's new daily opinion columns. Read our rant and join the debate by adding your comments.

WHEN Robert Thompson and Jon Venables were put on trial for the murder of James Bulger in November 1993, the proceedings were notable for several reasons.

They were tried in an adult court, perched on high chairs so they could see out of the dock, away from their parents.

The judge and court officials wore wigs and gowns (in many cases involving juveniles, this formality is dropped) and, outside, 500 protestors screamed for the youngsters’ blood.

At the time, they were referred to as Child A and Child B. After their conviction, they were identified and their photographs released to the press – because the trial judge deemed their identification to be in the public interest. He felt they should not have benefitted from anonymity.

But while the interests of the public were taken into account then, subsequent events have proved the justice system cares not a jot for the wants and needs of you and I.

On their release, millions of pounds was spent protecting the new identities of Venables and Thompson and the media were not allowed to identify them to keep the pair safe.

Jon Venables

Venables is back in prison – and still he is being protected. Only a handful of people know his new name.

We spend hundreds of thousands of pounds every year ensuring he is kept safe and snugly, with the occasional mug of tea and a Hob Nob with a probation officer his ‘punishment’ for brutalising a defenceless member of society in the most disgusting way imaginable.

How can our justice system be so out of touch with what the public wants?

Thompson – and particularly Venables, whose licence breach is a firm slap in the chops to every taxpayer in this country – should never have been given new identities.

They served pitifully short sentences and should have been left to take their chances on release.

If they were attacked, then surely the justice system in which we are all supposed to have so much faith would have dealt fairly with the perpetrators.

This column is produced by an independent writer and in no way reflects the official position of News Shopper or its parent company.

What do you think? Should James Bulger's killers have been given new identities and should the justice system continue to protect them? Should the reasons for Jon Venables' return to prison be made public? Add your comments below.

Check News Shopper's website every lunchtime for a new daily opinion column. Tuesday is entertainment, Wednesday is a reader's rant, Thursday will cover a moral issue and Friday is sport. Be sure to have your say if you agree or disagree with what you read.

Comments(21)

jca111 says...
1:06pm Mon 15 Mar 10

What a pile of rubbish!

So what do you want - mob rule. This is precisely what would happen if you got your wish as per this article.

What makes these two killers SO different to other killers? They were kids. So all killers then should be at the mercy of mob rule, and beatings?

These two were kids. Why are they so much more evil than an adult killer? Is it just possible that they did not fully realise the consequences of their actions?

This is, by no means, condoning what they did, but the government has a duty to protect each and every one of us, including criminals, so Jack Straw has no choice but to protect them.

And for those that say "life should mean life". They have a life sentence. Do your homework, and look at what that means. You are sentenced for life. Not all of your sentence is in incarceration, but AT ANY POINT for the rest of your life you may be returned if your breach the terms of your release, which has happened here.

We are a civilised country, lets keep it that way!