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The mother of murdered toddler James Bulger has demanded that the upcoming parole hearing for her son's killer be held in public so he is forced to 'face up' to his crimes.

Denise Fergus says an open hearing would help the public better understand the parole process and counter the 'disinformation' she believes has 'retraumatised' her family.

Jon Venables was 10 when he and fellow schoolboy Robert Thompson, also 10, abducted, tortured and murdered two-year-old James after leading him away from his mother while she was shopping in Bootle, Merseyside, on February 12, 1993.

Now 43, Venables was first released on licence in 2001 but has since twice been recalled to prison after being convicted of possessing indecent images of children in 2010 and again in 2017.

His last attempt to secure release was rejected in 2023. However, Mrs Fergus was informed in January that he would be given another opportunity to put his case before the Parole Board. A date for the hearing has yet to be announced.

Speaking on Mrs Fergus's behalf in January, family spokeswoman Kym Morris told the Mirror: 'Once again, Denise Fergus has been forced to confront a process that reopens unimaginable trauma.

'Denise was hoping for a redirection, allowing her a measure of peace and protection from further distress. That hope has now been taken away.'

The Parole Board has confirmed it has received an application from Mrs Fergus and her partner, Stuart Fergus, asking for the hearing to be held in public because of the exceptional public interest in the case.

According to a summary of the application published by the board, the couple argue that an open hearing could 'increase understanding' of the parole process.

Jon Venables (pictured) was 10-years-old when he and Robert Thompson, also 10, tortured and killed the two-year-old after luring him away from his mother Denise Fergus as she was shopping in Bootle, Merseyside, on 12 February 1993

The murder of James Bulger (pictured) caused shockwaves nationally both due to the horrific details of the attack and the age of his killers

Denise Fergus, the mother of murdered toddler James Bulger, outside the Old Bailey in London in 2018

It states: 'They argue that the prisoner should have to face up to his offending by way of a public hearing, especially given that he has committed further serious offences as an adult.'

The application also says Venables' further convictions as an adult are an 'exceptional feature' of the case and strengthen the argument for the hearing to be held in public.

Venables and his legal representatives will also be able to make submissions in response to the application.

Members of the public wishing to support or oppose the request can also make representations before August 14.

Until 2022, Parole Board hearings were held in private and the reasons for decisions to release prisoners were not made public.

The rules began to change after a successful legal challenge over the decision to release black cab rapist Jon Worboys in 2018. The High Court later overturned that decision and also struck down the secrecy rules surrounding Parole Board decisions.

The Government subsequently introduced rules allowing members of the public to apply for hearings to be held in public in certain circumstances, although the Parole Board can still refuse those applications.

James's murder shocked Britain because of the brutality of the attack and the young age of his killers.

When they were released, both Venables and Thompson were given new identities.

A High Court injunction remains in force banning the publication of those identities.