‘I’ll Never Forgive Them’: James Bulger’s Brother Says Killers ‘Robbed Me of My Childhood’ as He Demands Justice 30 Years On

Thirty years after the murder that horrified Britain, the brother of James Bulger has spoken publicly about the lifelong pain of growing up in the shadow of his brother’s death — and his refusal to ever forgive the killers who, in his words, “robbed me of my childhood.”

Michael Fergus, now 29, was born eight months after two-year-old James was abducted and murdered by Jon Venables and Robert Thompson in February 1993. The crime, carried out by two ten-year-old boys, remains one of the most shocking and heartbreaking cases in British criminal history.

Speaking ahead of the 30th anniversary of the tragedy, Michael told the Sunday Express that even though he never met his brother, the impact of James’s death has shaped every part of his life.

“My brother’s killers will never be forgiven,” he said firmly. “They took away my older brother — someone I never got to meet, but always wanted to look up to.”

‘They Stole a Lifetime of Memories’

James Bulger was just two years old when he was led away from the New Strand Shopping Centre in Bootle, Merseyside, by Venables and Thompson. The toddlers’ murderers tortured and killed him before leaving his body on a railway line.

The crime stunned the nation and changed the way Britain thought about childhood, violence, and justice.

For Michael Fergus, who was born months later, the shadow of that day has never faded.

“I always felt like there was a missing part of my life,” he said. “I would have loved to have looked up to my brother — to talk about school, exams, cars, football, girls, even just going to the pub together. All those normal things. They stole that from me.”

Michael’s words echo the pain still felt by the Bulger family three decades on. His mother, Denise Fergus, has long campaigned for tougher sentencing and greater transparency in parole hearings involving her son’s killers.

Like his mother, Michael believes that Jon Venables, who has reoffended since his release, should never be allowed to walk free again.

A Lifetime of Questions

Michael’s life has been shaped by both grief and the media spotlight that has surrounded the case since 1993.

Growing up, he says, he struggled to comprehend the enormity of what had happened before he was even born — yet the tragedy was impossible to escape.

“Everyone knows the name James Bulger,” he said. “I’d hear people talk about it, and it was strange to know they were talking about my brother. There’s pride that people still remember him, but there’s sadness too — because I never got to.”

He admits that as a child, he would sometimes imagine what life might have been like if James had lived.

“I think about who he’d be now — maybe with a family, maybe watching football together,” Michael said. “But then reality hits you — and it’s anger. They took away all of that. They didn’t just take James; they took what he could’ve been.”

‘Justice Means Keeping Them Behind Bars’

Jon Venables and Robert Thompson were both convicted of murder in 1993 and detained until 2001, when they were released on lifelong licence with new identities.

Since then, Venables has twice been returned to prison — most recently in 2017, when child abuse images were found on his computer. His parole review, expected soon, has reignited fierce public debate.

Michael says he supports his mother’s ongoing fight to keep Venables locked up.

“Justice for James means Venables never gets out again,” he said. “He’s proved he can’t be trusted. Every time his name comes up, it’s like reopening an old wound. My family has suffered enough.”

30 Years of Pain — And Strength

For the Bulger family, the pain of losing James has never dulled. Yet through their grief, they have continued to fight for tougher protections for victims and their families.

Denise Fergus has become a tireless advocate for child safety and justice reform, campaigning for changes to the parole system and greater transparency in cases involving violent offenders.

Michael says he draws strength from his mother’s courage — and hopes his words will remind people that the consequences of that day still ripple through their lives.

“My mum is the strongest person I know,” he said. “What she’s been through, no parent should ever go through. But she never gives up.”

He also expressed gratitude to the public for their ongoing support and remembrance of his brother.

“Every February, people still talk about James, still share his story, still say his name,” Michael said. “It means the world. It shows that he’ll never be forgotten.”

A Nation That Never Forgot

Three decades later, the name James Bulger still evokes a deep national sorrow. The image of the small boy in his blue jacket being led away from the shopping centre remains one of the most haunting in modern Britain.

As the 30th anniversary passes, Michael Fergus’s message is one of remembrance — but also of unhealed wounds.

“I’ll never forgive them,” he said quietly. “They robbed me of a brother — and they robbed my family of peace. Some things you just can’t forgive.”

For Michael, justice is not about revenge, but about making sure his brother’s killers never have another chance to harm anyone again.

“James deserves that,” he said. “After 30 years, that’s the least we can do for him.”