22 years ago today. R.I.P James Bulger

DenMan

So hard to be believe it is 22 years ago now today! Poor little James. He was only a month away from his third birthday! R.I.P xx

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/james-bulgers-mother-shares-heartfelt-8629467

vicwatson

Ah leave him rest in peace FFS

SEPT 23 1989

That CCTV image of him being led away stays with you:(

cant imagine what his mother went through

RIP

Birneybau

The exclamation point is a bit...not right.

OldNotWIse

Don't know how she kept going. I don't even have kids yet and I can't imagine the hell she must have gone through. Worst of all, his killers get to enjoy new identities and start their lives over

scdublin

So sad I was only a young kid myself when it happened but I remember my mam explaining that some bad people had taken him. I learned more details when I was older and it's just horrifying.

Magico Gonzalez

What is the point of this thread? Poor kid, poor family. Leave it be.

OldNotWIse

Magico Gonzalez wrote: »

What is the point of this thread? Poor kid, poor family. Leave it be.

What is the point of any thread on Boards in fairness?

Fiery mutant

The horror this boy went through fills me with an anger that I cannot describe, and a dread that haunts my soul.

If there really is an afterlife, then I hope this boy is being afforded the peace and security he was so cruelly denied here on earth.

He belongs at the top table.

Magico Gonzalez

OldNotWIse wrote: »

What is the point of any thread on Boards in fairness?

I would hope it's not to drag up isolated horrific murders from 22 years ago which should be left in the past with the families being allowed to move on.

More than anything, that's what the point should not be of any thread on boards, since you asked my opinion.

I hope it's not using a completely spurious anniversary (22yrs ?) of a tragic event to thanks whore and dig up some long past horrors for some weird narcisstic reason. "Check out my thread" I mean, come on, is this a striking or relevant anniversary? Let it go FFS.

We aren't 4chan yet are we?

Fairly good rule of thumb, no?

El Weirdo

Magico Gonzalez wrote: »

What is the point of this thread?

The torture fantasists will be along shortly to let us all know what they think should have been done to Venables and Thompson.

OldNotWIse

Magico Gonzalez wrote: »

I would hope it's not to drag up isolated horrific murders from 22 years ago which should be left in the past with the families being allowed to move on.

More than anything, that's what the point should not be of any thread on boards, since you asked my opinion.

I hope it's not using a completely spurious anniversary (22yrs ?) of a tragic event to thanks whore and dig up some long past horrors for some weird narcisstic reason. "Check out my thread" I mean, come on, is this a striking or relevant anniversary? Let it go FFS.

We aren't 4chan yet are we?

Fairly good rule of thumb, no?

Maybe you should refrain from speaking for everyone and stick to speaking for yourself.

catallus

Magico Gonzalez wrote: »

We aren't 4chan yet are we?

More's the pity!!!


God Bless 4Chan!

Buzz Meeks

I think venables and thompson should have been taken to a torture chamber and tortured real good.

Smidge

El Weirdo wrote: »

The torture fantasists will be along shortly to let us all know what they think should have been done to Venables and Thompson.

Buzz Meeks wrote: »

I think venables and thompson should have been taken to a torture chamber and tortured real good.

That didn't take long

DeadHand

Almost like the OP is sort if nostalgic about it, as if saying "do you believe Italia 90 was 25 years ago!"

Feels inappropriate to me.

Let the dead rest.

smash

RIP threads for current news can be useful for finding out information on current affairs. But this nostalgia/memorial stuff just feels like thanks whoring. Let it go....

bb1234567

Magico Gonzalez wrote: »

I would hope it's not to drag up isolated horrific murders from 22 years ago which should be left in the past with the families being allowed to move on.

More than anything, that's what the point should not be of any thread on boards, since you asked my opinion.

I hope it's not using a completely spurious anniversary (22yrs ?) of a tragic event to thanks whore and dig up some long past horrors for some weird narcisstic reason. "Check out my thread" I mean, come on, is this a striking or relevant anniversary? Let it go FFS.

We aren't 4chan yet are we?

Fairly good rule of thumb, no?

Leave him alone. People can start threads for whatever reason they want, dont have to justify themselves to you.

bjork

One of the guys that did it has been back in the news recently. But his identify must be kept hidden. I think he's back in the slammer again. Good Riddance.

anncoates

Who can predict AH.

You make an RIP thread with every expectation it will be a runner but then everybody inexplicably opts for stern moralising instead.

Made the mistake a few years back of reading the case details and it's haunted me since.

bb1234567

anncoates wrote: »

Who can predict AH.

You make an RIP thread with every expectation it will be a runner but then everybody inexplicably opts for stern moralising instead.

Made the mistake a few years back of reading the case details and it's haunted me since.

Literally. Before I even open any of these death threads I don't know whether to expect jokes or stern moralising

Ihatecuddles

I'm 23 and have a very vague idea of what happened. I think I'll keep it that way.

bb1234567

Ihatecuddles wrote: »

I'm 23 and have a very vague idea of what happened. I think I'll keep it that way.

Its quite an incredible case, depressing yes but still interesting.

DeadHand

Ihatecuddles wrote: »

I'm 23 and have a very vague idea of what happened. I think I'll keep it that way.

You're better off not knowing.

Tugboats

Must be a slow news day in the if grief junkies need to bring this up

Ihatecuddles

bb1234567 wrote: »

Its quite an incredible case, depressing yes but still interesting.

I think there's plenty of interesting things I can read up on that won't give me nightmares!

Omackeral

bb1234567 wrote: »

Its quite an incredible case, depressing yes but still interesting.

It's very interesting as a case despite the horrible facts and events. Children tried as adults essentially and the public baying for the blood of two 10 year olds. I think a lot of innocence died that day, not just poor James, but in society as a whole with the knowledge that kids from round the corner (I know this was the UK but I mean that in a general sense) could be capable of such atrocity and evil.

Ihatecuddles

Omackeral wrote: »

It's very interesting as a case despite the horrible facts and events. Children tried as adults essentially and the public baying for the blood of two 10 year olds. I think a lot of innocence died that day, not just poor James, but in society as a whole with the knowledge that kids from round the corner (I know this was the UK but I mean that in a general sense) could be capable of such atrocity and evil.

Did they ever say why they did it? Did they know him?

Sorry I'd find out myself but I'm too fragile to read any of the horrific details!!

bjork

Ihatecuddles wrote: »

Did they ever say why they did it? Did they know him?

Sorry I'd find out myself but I'm too fragile to read any of the horrific details!!

Because they are sick in the head. I don';t think they knew him. Just took him from a shopping center.


One serving time for more offences

Omackeral

They didn't know him. They were from rough backgrounds and often skipped school. Venebles was the smarter one with Thompson kind of following along. They were up to mischief on the day and snatched him in a shopping centre. They tried it earlier in the day with another kid but were foiled. They were spotted by 37 IIRC people as they led the poor chap away but nobody spoke up, some assuming it was a couple of lads with their brother.

Imagine how guilty you'd feel if you were one of those who saw them?

anncoates

Omackeral wrote: »

Imagine how guilty you'd feel if you were one of those who saw them?

Even less chance somebody would intervene these days with the climate of tabloid driven pedo fear.

JaseBelleVie

Both Venables and Thompson had been abused (possibly sexually, but definitely physically), neglected, ignored and simply unloved by their families most of their lives. They, for some reason, chose to vent anger, frustration and trauma on a helpless toddler. Nobody will every truly know what exactly drove them to it, what made them do it. They even tried to bring Jamie back to life by putting batteries in his mouth; thinking that he was akin to a toy and that would work. They did not, perhaps, realise the gravity and horror of what they had done.

The above is a potential reason, not an excuse. Just before I get called a tree-hugger, lib-lab, pinko, criminal apologist or anything.

The mere fact that two 10 year old boys were tried as adults is simply mind boggling. That should never have happened in the first place. They did deserve to have consequences upon their heads, but being tried in the Old Bailey and being subjected to a trial that most adults would find traumatic was not the way to go.

The family of Jamie Bulger went through one of the worst and most horrendous experiences that a family can ever go through. It is not shocking that the marriage of Ralph and Denise Bulger did not survive the trauma.

There can be little doubt that both Robert Thompson and Jon Venables were two damaged, sick individuals. But at the age of 10, perhaps punishing them as if they were adults was not the way to go. Instead of flinging them into institutions where little to no proper psychological help was available, perhaps treating them properly would have had a better result. While Thompson has dropped off the radar completely and is obviously now a law-abiding citizen somewhere, most people know that Venables has turned into a recidivist and a consumer of child pornography. Why one has obviously been able to get on with his life and the other has not is up for debate.

A most awful and sickening case, every way you look at it. There was no outcome here that would let you think "At least justice was done". It most certainly was not.

Omackeral

That's a fair, balanced and accurate post there JBV. One thing that always annoyed me though is how the child was posthumously called 'Jamie' by the media when his name was James. His family never called him by the former. Just a little bug bear of mine. Just a little respect thing I guess.

JaseBelleVie

Also, the film Boy A, starring Andrew Garfield, is an excellent piece that is very loosely based around the case. Much of the details have been changed completely, but it is obvious where the inspiration for the film came from.

Boring username

It's a little bit warped that someone would drag up a 22 year old murder just to get a few cheap likes on boards.ie. I believe the term in the UK is 'Grief whoring'.

StewartGriffin

JaseBelleVie wrote: »

They even tried to bring Jamie back to life by putting batteries in his mouth; thinking that he was akin to a toy and that would work.

Hmmm, I don't think that's entirely accurate.

del88

As sad as the death of James bulger was it's estimate that 165,000,000 children have died in Africa from curable preventable diseases since then..most from pneumonia, diarrhoea and health problems during the first month of life...
Now that is sad ...

Ihatecuddles

Boring username wrote: »

It's a little bit warped that someone would drag up a 22 year old murder just to get a few cheap likes on boards.ie. I believe the term in the UK is 'Grief whoring'.

You're definitely the first to say that
Definitely.

todders

El Weirdo wrote: »

The torture fantasists will be along shortly to let us all know what they think should have been done to Venables and Thompson.

Dey should lock dem up and throw away their balls. Take rusty knife and chop off their key!!

bloody bankers!!

De government all crooks

Sociopath2

del88 wrote: »

As sad as the death of James bulger was it's estimate that 165,000,000 children have died in Africa from curable preventable diseases since then..most from pneumonia, diarrhoea and health problems during the first month of life...
Now that is sad ...

And irrelevant

porsche959

El Weirdo wrote: »

The torture fantasists will be along shortly to let us all know what they think should have been done to Venables and Thompson.

Indeed but if Venables and Thompson were Mussslims it would be even worse.

Bleedin immigrunts.

anncoates

del88 wrote: »

As sad as the death of James bulger was it's estimate that 165,000,000 children have died in Africa from curable preventable diseases since then..most from pneumonia, diarrhoea and health problems during the first month of life...
Now that is sad ...

By using both as a reflexive, wanky, student debating society point of order, you just devalue all the deaths.

Venus In Furs

The "You're looking for thanks" thing seems to indicate mind-reading ability.
It's hard to believe it's 22 years ago - that's all. It was a MASSIVE news story at the time. Terrible occurrences that took place in the past are often talked about.

del88 wrote: »

As sad as the death of James bulger was it's estimate that 165,000,000 children have died in Africa from curable preventable diseases since then..most from pneumonia, diarrhoea and health problems during the first month of life...
Now that is sad ...

Predicted that.

Paddy Cow

Omackeral wrote: »

That's a fair, balanced and accurate post there JBV. One thing that always annoyed me though is how the child was posthumously called 'Jamie' by the media when his name was James. His family never called him by the former. Just a little bug bear of mine. Just a little respect thing I guess.

Jamie is more childlike than James. A subtle tactic by the media in their pitch fork whoring.

petrolcan

Buzz Meeks wrote: »

I think venables and thompson should have been taken to a torture chamber and tortured real good.

Would you be the torturer?

Thankfully we live in a civilised part of the world.

Venus In Furs

I think Buzz Meeks is just taking the pee.

I think so anyway.

fleet_admiral

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

That CCTV image of him being led away stays with you:(

cant imagine what his mother went through

RIP

Im sure his dad went through equal agony. I would if similar happened to my son, who is the same age as Jamie Bolger was when he was murdered.

AlteredStates

RIP

Buzz Meeks

petrolcan wrote: »

Thankfully we live in a civilised part of the world.

Bear in mind there's people posting on boards from Tallaght

floggg

bb1234567 wrote: »

Leave him alone. People can start threads for whatever reason they want, dont have to justify themselves to you.

Yea, but people are allowed post in said threads and express their views on whether there was any need for the thread in the first place!

anncoates

fleet_admiral wrote: »

Im sure his dad went through equal agony. I would if similar happened to my son, who is the same age as Jamie Bolger was when he was murdered.

True but he was with her when he was abducted.

The guilt must be horrible although we've all lost sight of our kids for a few seconds before and that's all it took.

I can see in a way why people are saying why does this case generate so much interest but it was kids abducting and murdering a kid. It's just something so hard to get your head around, especially if you have children.