James Bulger killer to be freed

Ralph Bulger and the paternal family of James Bulger are disappointed and dismayed to have been advised that the Parole Board have decide to release Jon Venables back into society.

In 2011 the Parole Board determined that it was 'not safe' for Jon Venables to be released. It is not known what has changed. No reasons for the decision have been given.

For Ralph and his family the living nightmare continues and is exacerbated by the problems now created by the reckless decision to free Jon Venables without any publicly disclosed safeguards.

Jon Venables is a sex offender who has murdered once and made it clear when posing as the mother of a child that an 'ultimate thrill' for him was the sexual abuse of a child.

The authorities have already experimented with Jon Venables living a lie and it did not work.

I got a call from the Probation Service, but they only told me that the parole has been approved and that preparations are being made for his release.

I have not been told what conditions they are going to impose and even whether he will still be banned from entering the county of Merseyside.

I've been fighting for justice for James for twenty years now and I will continue to do so. The Parole Board have made the wrong decision.

Venables has shown time and again that he cannot be trusted and that he is a danger to the public and himself.

He lies and manipulates people for his own sick ends and I believe the Parole Board have made the wrong decision. He is still a huge risk and they should not let him out after just three years.

The re-release of life-licensed offenders is directed by the independent Parole Board once they are satisfied they can be safely managed in the community.

Their life licence lasts for the rest of their lives, and they may be recalled to prison at any time for breaching their licence conditions.

Additionally, they will be subject to strict controls and restrictions for as long as their risk requires them.