Denise Fergus, mother of murdered toddler James Bulger, expressed heartbreak after discovering vandalism at her son’s grave. The headstone shows clear damage, and two cherubs flanking it lie smashed in pieces.
Details of the Vandalism
The incident occurred between 10am and 3:30pm on February 26 at the cemetery where James rests. A passerby walking her dog spotted the destruction and alerted the family. Fergus rushed to the scene to find chunks of marble scattered around the broken cherubs.
In a public statement, Fergus shared her anguish: “I’m devastated someone could be so cruel and hurtful to my James.” She added, “Today I felt my heart break once again… I need to find whoever done this to my son’s resting place.”
Fergus, who runs a charity in James’s memory and supports other families in justice campaigns, called the act against a baby’s grave particularly shocking. She urged witnesses to contact the James Bulger Memorial Trust or Merseyside Police.
Police Response
Merseyside Police described the vandalism as “abhorrent and truly shocking.” Inspector Chris Taylor stated: “We are taking this matter extremely seriously and remain determined to find the person or people responsible. To vandalise a grave is completely abhorrent and it’s truly shocking to think that someone could commit such an appalling act.”
Officers responded immediately upon the report and continue to support the family during the investigation.
Background on James Bulger Case
James Bulger, aged two, was abducted from a Merseyside shopping centre in February 1993 by Jon Venables and Robert Thompson, both 10 years old at the time. He endured torture before his murder, shocking the nation.
The vandalism adds to ongoing pain for the family. Venables, released on licence in 2001, faced recalls to prison in 2010 and 2017 for possessing indecent images of children. Parole was denied in 2023 due to concerns over his risk to children, with another bid pending.
