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

JaseBelleVie · 12-02-2015 07:45PM

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.

12-02-2015 07:50PM

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 · 12-02-2015 07:56PM

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 · 12-02-2015 08:00PM

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 · 12-02-2015 08:06PM

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 · 12-02-2015 08:09PM

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 · 12-02-2015 08:13PM

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 · 12-02-2015 08:22PM

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 · 12-02-2015 08:25PM

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 · 12-02-2015 08:43PM

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 · 12-02-2015 11:41PM

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 · 12-02-2015 11:49PM

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 · 12-02-2015 11:58PM

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 · 13-02-2015 12:02AM

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 · 13-02-2015 12:03AM

I think Buzz Meeks is just taking the pee.

I think so anyway.

fleet_admiral · 13-02-2015 12:46AM

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 · 13-02-2015 12:47AM

RIP

Buzz Meeks · 13-02-2015 12:48AM

petrolcan wrote: »

Thankfully we live in a civilised part of the world.

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

floggg · 13-02-2015 12:49AM

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 · 13-02-2015 12:50AM

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.

dark crystal · 13-02-2015 01:04AM

Ihatecuddles wrote: »

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

Please don't ever read up about the details; I really wish I hadn't. It upset me so much, I felt sick. Haunted me for ages and I still don't like thinking about it.

I can't begin to imagine how any parent gets over something like that - it must take the most immense human strength just to carry on and get through each day. I believe Denise and Ralph now have other partners and children and I hope they have found some peace in their lives.

whatdoicare · 13-02-2015 01:31AM

Since having my daughter, I regularly have nightmares about poor Jamie. His murder just shocked me right to my soul, I don't know how his poor family get through their days, a child dying is horrific but a child dying by being tortured, scared and in pain, it's just ...I have no words for how awful this is. If that had happened to my baby I'd just walk into the Shannon, I couldn't live with that pain.

I think I'll just go sit with my baby for a while

seventeen sheep · 13-02-2015 06:29AM

Paddy Cow wrote: »

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

Similar to Maddie vs Madeleine.

NachoBusiness · 13-02-2015 07:33AM

JaseBelleVie wrote: »

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..

Indeed, as was pretty much the case with Mary Bell, although more about the ways in which she was abused are known in comparison to the little known about Venables' childhood. Here's a docu about Bell and the 1968 murders. The details are equally as horrific as those of the James Bulger murder, if not more so, and so viewer discretion is without question advised. It's about as gruesome, upsetting and shocking as it gets.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moFhGzE_xRI

OldNotWIse · 13-02-2015 10:22AM

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.

You're right though. These poor kids become medias darling or something. They did the same with Madeleine McCann - her parents said she was never called "Maddie".

Also, out of curiosity, the age of criminal responsibility was 10 at the time in UK, wasn't it? Not casting an opinion on whether or not it should have been, just curious.

OldNotWIse · 13-02-2015 10:25AM

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 ...

It's not a competition. It's all sad.

lazygal · 13-02-2015 10:26AM

whatdoicare wrote: »

Since having my daughter, I regularly have nightmares about poor Jamie. His murder just shocked me right to my soul, I don't know how his poor family get through their days, a child dying is horrific but a child dying by being tortured, scared and in pain, it's just ...I have no words for how awful this is. If that had happened to my baby I'd just walk into the Shannon, I couldn't live with that pain.

I think I'll just go sit with my baby for a while

Very similar here. I actually can't even think about the cctv footage. I think the fact it has Mothercare in it added to the horror.

AudreyHepburn · 13-02-2015 10:28AM

RIP James.

I really wish I hadn't read the details of the case, it's sickening and regardless of their age those two boys should never have been let out of prison.

What does it matter why the OP started this thread.....much worse threads have been started for much worse reasons.

eviltwin · 13-02-2015 10:30AM

James's dad Ralph wrote a book a few years ago. It's the most heartbreaking thing I ever read and it's stayed with me. To lose your baby is hard enough but the manner of it and the fact it was two children.....I can't imagine what they have been through and what they continue to go through. This happened when I was quite young so the full horror of it went over my head but since having children I can't read this stuff without imagining it was my little boy. I have so much admiration for Denise and Ralph and their dignity over the years. Even just writing this makes me want to hug my kids. Rip little James.

OldNotWIse · 13-02-2015 10:31AM

lazygal wrote: »

Very similar here. I actually can't even think about the cctv footage. I think the fact it has Mothercare in it added to the horror.

I don't have children yet, but I plan to some day. I have no experience of what it is like to carry, bear and love a child but I do know that if this happened to me, I couldn't go on. My godson's mother told me that within ten minutes of seeing him for the first time, she knew that if forced to choose, she would sacrifice her life for his. It was the most beautiful thing I ever heard. To love someone so much and then have them taken away so horribly...why would you want to go on?

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

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