UK & World News
- 14 February 2013, 14:53
'Jon Venables Twitter Photo' Investigation
A picture purporting to show the new identity of one of the killers of toddler James Bulger has been posted on Twitter, prompting an investigation.
The image is supposed to show Jon Venables, who was jailed along with his friend Robert Thompson for killing the youngster in a crime that appalled the nation 20 years ago this week.
In the picture, the man identified as Venables is seen smiling, apparently at a birthday party.
Venables was given a new identity after being released from prison for James' murder in 2001. There is a worldwide ban on publishing anything that would identify him as Jon Venables.
His parole was revoked and he was jailed again in 2010 for downloading and distributing dozens of indecent images of children. He is now making a new bid for release.
Denise Fergus, the mother of the murdered two-year-old, told Sky News earlier this week that Venables was a "ticking time bomb" and should not be released.
The image posted on Twitter was re-tweeted 100 times.
A spokesman for the Attorney General's Office said: "The AGO has been alerted to a possible contempt of court.
"We are liaising with the Ministry of Justice and others to establish the facts.
"We can neither confirm nor deny whether the pictures in question are of Jon Venables.
"It should be noted, there is a worldwide injunction in place which prevents the publication of any images or information purporting to identify anyone as Jon Venables."
Update:
Hello, regular commenting on Orange News and Sport pages closes on Thursday 30 May 2013. We will continue to provide a commenting facility on major news and sport events on orangeworld.co.uk. Contact us via http://oran.ge/OWfeedback if you have any further questions. Thanks.
what do you think?
ali baba
To this day I remember the footage of this hideous crime. 2 kids leading a little boy to his death. RIP.
Louisa Gieldon
It's the kind of thing you never forget - haunting and horrific
Robbie369P .
Just google it. It's the same person over and over again so it must be him
Name witheld
This comment has been removed for violations of our Terms and Conditions.
mmumtaz
He deserves it...he needs to stay behind bars as well
Marilyn Francis
The images of what this scumbag Venebles and Robert Thomson inflictated on Baby James has lived in my mind for 20 years, then they were released with new identities, the world should know who they are, everyone should know who they are living next door to. luckilyVenebles is bk behind bars where he should stay throw the key away.
jimmyjedi1979
i have no empathy for these monsters. The only people would like to see executed. And id gladly take a front row seat. If the guy in the picture doesn't publicly come out and deny being JV then its as good as him and if so hes as good as dead.
Anthony Smith
Let him out. There are a lot of people who want to meet him.
arthur ruddock
you dont need long elaborate posts..this one says it all!
davenlesley
I think the courts are in an awkward situation. If the picture is not Venables then whoever posted it has no case to answer. If it is him how can they prosecute without confirming this fact thus breaching their own court order.
Baker101
I've seen a photo of him at work (some fastfood place) which he and his colleagues posed for for a news article because they did a fund raising event or something. This guy has no right to a private existence, no after what he did and definitely not after what he has continued to do which got him locked up a second time. If he is released, everyone in the country has a right to know if he's living in their area as I wouldn't feel safe knowing he's out there, but not knowing what he looks like.
George Clement
His photo should be on every milk carton or lamp post
Phil stiff
8:36am on 14/2/2013
why shouldnt people know who he is, he broke the law and should suffer the consequenses. the authorities are as bad as him by giving him a new identity.
Katie Heeson
9:36am on 14/2/2013
Too right!! I found out other day where he used to live..... soon moved him after his house got all his windows put thru!!!
davenlesley
11:54am on 14/2/2013
Why does the state continue to hide this child killer?. He should be left to deal with the consequences of his actions. Yet they are happy to publish the details a man accused of rape even before anything is proven