UK & World News
- 26 February 2013, 1:32
'Bulger Killer Photos' Prompt Legal Action
A number of Twitter users who posted photos claiming to show James Bulger'skiller Jon Venables are facing the risk of jail after Britain's top legal adviser launched legal proceedings against them.
Attorney General Dominic Grieve said court papers would be served against a number of individuals.
Venables was 10 when he and classmate Robert Thompson abducted and murdered two-year-old James in Liverpool in February 1993.
The pair were jailed for life but were released in 2001 under the protection of a court order banning any publication of information that could lead to their identification.
Under the terms of an injunction, publication of any image or information purporting to identify anyone as Venables or Thompson is prohibited.
The terms of the order mean that if a picture claims to be one of James Bulger's killers, even if it is not actually them, it would breach the order.
The Attorney General's statement said: "There are many different images circulating online claiming to be of Venables or Thompson; potentially innocent individuals may be wrongly identified as being one of the two men and placed in danger.
"Breaches of the order may be a contempt of court punishable by a fine and/or imprisonment.
"It is also a criminal offence to encourage others to commit acts of violence or to publish online malicious communications."
Images recently appeared on Twitter claiming to show an adult Venables, who was released from jail on licence with a new identity in 2001.
Dame Elizabeth Butler-Sloss, of the High Court Family Division, made an unprecedented court order banning publication of any information which could lead to the revelation of their new identities.
Venables, now 30, had his parole revoked in 2010 and was jailed for two years after admitting downloading and distributing indecent images of children.
James's mother Denise Fergus, has always opposed the injunction, fearing it could lead to innocent men being accused of being James's killers.
what do you think?
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Diane Rogers
My thoughts as well, if one of them had a girlfriend with children and she didn't know they could do it again
Diane Rogers
It will be the mamby pamby brigade. Plus if people see my name automatic thumbs down no matter what the post says
j.r.haynes
Well DARREN & DIANE have a thumbs up from me. Can't wait to see what LOUISA posts in response!
shirley sutton
Its one thing posting photos but got to be 100% sure they're who they think they are - could be someone quite innocent it's happened before - they should never have given them a new identity they should live with their crime
James Dalby
Venables breached his parole & ended up back in jail for having indecent images of children. Once a peadophile always a peadophile, these 2 dont deserve a ordinary life and should be known to the public every step of the way
Diane Rogers
Thanks j.r
Louisa Gieldon
Hiya JR - actually, sorry to disappoint you, but i couldn't care less as i've made my views clear on other threads. Incidentally this thread is about the rule of law and not the original crime. from LOUISA!!!
Andrea Hill
its not.being mamby pamby at all, this has nothing to do with original crime
Diane Rogers
Andrea, I think it has if the original crime had not been so horrendous people would not feel so strongly
movvi
Worst nightmare may have come true already, Diane - I read that there had to be an emergency meeting of the few who know the identity of one of them when it was discovered he was indeed living with a woman and her child! It's a scary thought; I agree.
Diane Rogers
Movvi. How will they sort that out, will they tell the women and speak to her child to see if he has done anything to him or her.
Katie Heeson
Keep them in prison so there no risk of other children getting hurt!!!! Why not let people know what they look like there old enough to defend themselves in a dark ally that poor little boy wasn't!!!!!
Gary Wrightson
some people on here say the governments evil, these two are what i call real evil, and if they are the right pictures of them , then people on twitter should be given a medal, not being strung through the courts. at the time of this happening my two nephews were the same age 10 yrs of age, i asked them about it and they said how sick and disgusted they were with it and how could they do something like that , they assured me that every ten year old would know what they were doing at that age. as for doing their time , that dont cut no ice with me , they should not be breathing the air on this earth.
Louisa Gieldon
Do you support the rule of law only when it co incides with your own personal views Gary. Whether you like it or not these posters have broken the law. This article is about that, not the original crime
Andrea Hill
i agree with louisa, this is nothing to do with original crime.
Diane Rogers
I think it has a lot to do with original crime, if it hadn't had been so horrendous people would not feel so strongly
Gary Wrightson
yes louise i do support the rule of law, it dont mean i have to agree with it all the time though. it has everything to do with the original crime , if they did not commit the crime , we wouldnt be talking about this now otherwise would we. anyway louise and andrea maybe you both need a memory jog on what these two people did to poor james. i dont as its still scared in my head the same as it did when i first read about it in the paper.
Baker101
If they were kept locked up no one would have to reveal a present image of them, because no one would have to fear them living in their area.
Sandra Bryans
I dnt think the people shud b prosecuted 4 those pics but im not sure in the case of 1 of the boys hee seems 2 b keepin his head down the other 1 shuda been draged bak an locked up 4 life wen they found him wit child p#rn on his comp shows he cnt b trusted nothing can bring james bak
Andrea Hill
what, couldnt understand a word.
movvi
Your post gave me eyeache! x
James R McCulloch
It seems to me that they have more rights than the average Joe Public.
Michael Hawkins
No Jr they have the same rights as average Joe public
movvi
Indeed - and the average Joe Public didn't even kill anyone! Same or more rights, that seems wrong.
Michael Hawkins
Sorry got my facts wrong They both have life sentences hanging over them which i believe they will carry to the grave
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robert
WHY were they granted anonimyty,name changes,new accomadation,money etc.? At the end of the day they were convicted murderers and should be treated accordingly.Let them run the gauntlet and take whatever comes.
hollywoodbowden
Only in England can you be done for trying to shame a child killer
Louisa Gieldon
Not true. In fact many other countries take a much dimmer view of this.
Michael Hawkins
Wrong They are being done for contempt of court
movvi
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ali baba
Deport them Ooops they English. Truth is this is just shocking. They kill a child and for the rest of their life's the tax payer gives them a life. Absurd if u ask me.
Michael Hawkins
Part of me says these to should have their photo splashed all over the press they may get what they deserve The other overriding part say that if we take justice into our own hands, mob and anarchy will rule We should all abide by the law even if we disagree with it, and do our best to change what we do not agree with Unfortunately the general public are only required to elect politician once in power they do their own thing and sod those who pay their wages
Louisa Gieldon
Agreed Michael, We can't pick and choose which pieces of legislationwe obey. That would indeed be anarchy and none of us would be safe with such chaos around us. I do wish some of the dullards on here would stop and consider that for a moment or two
Louisa Gieldon
JR make a point worth responding to and i may oblige you.
Peter Coates
I'm told you can take a picture of one hundred people and three of them will be released murderers.
Michael Hawkins
you missed In the Isle of Wight prison
steven
What I think cannot be printed here, but I would not have given them a new identity.
Chris King
No justice for Jamie, the two especially the one who reoffended should not be covered up and protected. Sooner they are not around the better they should bring back the death penalty.
Vincent Stafford
It's fairly obvious that politicians never listen to us plebs and are never going to sanction capital punishment so these murderers hopefully spend every day of their miserable existence forever looking over their shoulders in the knowledge and fear that someone somewhere is going to recognise them. I echo the sentiment expressed elsewhere that it's just a matter of time before they reoffend and , as a matter of interest wonder what the reaction would be if the victim was a member of a politicians or judges family.
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ann davies
if they had been hung or given a needle to get rid of them then there would not be this problem. they killed a baby...for gods sake what is this country coming to, get rid of these two for good... there are too many do-gooders in this world..
Malkie Man
I want to would want to know if the bloke next door has killed a kid or not.
happymike CHESTER
As Venables committed another heinous crime upon leaving gaol he deserves no protection and is now fair game . He has had the best of education ,life style and tax payers money spent on him to reform .Poor James Bulger had a short life this monster had all the chances of a new life.
Neil C
4:23pm on 25/2/2013
Joke, should not be walking our streets!!!! Eye for an eye
Andrea Hill
4:56pm on 25/2/2013
an innocent person could be targeted if they look like them.
shirley sutton
5:53pm on 25/2/2013
Very true Andrea
Michael Hawkins
8:27am on 26/2/2013
A few yes ago the intelligent people of Portsmouth beat up a paediatrician after a media witch hunt for paedophiles Good reason for not permitting mob rule and the need to enforce the law