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Original poster

re Facebook and the pictures of James Bulger's killers

347 replies

NessieMcFessie · 15/02/2013 16:11

A friend of mine on Facebook has posted the pictures of James Bulger's killers as they look 'today'. I have no idea where they have come from or if they are actually the two men involved (and I don't know if she knows any of this information).

AIBU to report these pictures? She has had loads of support under her post.

OP posts:
pigletmania · 16/02/2013 16:26

Was James Bulgers family paid any money in terms of being the victim of crime

Tortington · 16/02/2013 16:29

i've de-friended someone over this - it was the final straw in what i was seeing was at the least a xenophobic attitude leaning slightly to the right of Sun reader IYKWIM

and i rarely do that - i mean, im freinds with hundreds of mumsnetters ive never met in my life - im not very picky when it come to fb friends tbh!

StrawberryGateaux · 16/02/2013 16:32

It's James, that was a victim and his poor family. Least we remember that.
I think those boys had it easy.

They should never have been released, ever!
What's worrying is that they can & probably have established relationships with women & for all we knew had kids Shock, very worrying indeed.

LottieJenkins · 16/02/2013 16:57

Ive just reported the pictures!

WireCatWhore · 16/02/2013 16:57

I'm going to delete the people who keep posting these picture. Bloody idiots.

IneedAsockamnesty · 16/02/2013 17:05

Strawberry,

With the one who has not gone on to reoffend and is living in line with the conditions of his release why would it matter if he formed a relationship and had a child?

Do you seriously believe he is not subject to scrutiny and management from relevant agencies?

StrawberryGateaux · 16/02/2013 18:09

Of course it would matter, the woman wouldn't know who she has married and he would have access to that child.

I don't agree the with the photos being circulated, as pointed out by a pp, it is likely that is a picture of an innocent member of public and their life could be at risk.

But as for believing they have been punished, no they haven't.
They gave up any rights to a life the day they tortured James to death.
Both of them should have never been released, a 10yr old knows right from wrong and to do what they did us purely evil & premeditated.

I don't care if i get accused of pitchforking, if anyone ever read the full story of what James, a small 2yo went through, i'm sure you will agree that release should never have been an option.

edam · 16/02/2013 18:25

I hate people sharing these pictures. Very possibly an entirely innocent man and even if not, there are extremely good reasons for not revealing Venables' identity to all and sundry.

What they did was unspeakably horrific but they were the victims of appalling abuse themselves - if they'd come from decent homes, I doubt they would have been capable of carrying out the same monstrous acts of cruelty. Their acts were evil but the criminal justice system was very wrong to try them as adults in an adult court. They were 10, and very damaged 10 year olds at that.

However, I am dubious about them being let out. I know the courts claimed being transferred to adult prisons would harm their rehabilitation but clearly Venables has not reformed and is not capable of coping with life outside prison. God only knows about the other one.

FlouncingMintyy · 16/02/2013 18:31

Completely agree with bottleofbeer.

Delete anyone who shares these photos on facebook - they clearly have sub-slug intelligence.

IneedAsockamnesty · 16/02/2013 18:34

Have you read the full story? The case notes all the MAPPA notes, are you aware of the conditions of the changed identity or any cp plans that would be in place for any children born.

Are you aware that the people who have and still need to know who they are, do know.

DreamsTurnToGoldDust · 16/02/2013 18:49

I love the mis information people have on here, gossiping a pile of shit.

T and V are on licence and will be for the rest of their lives, like any other murders, any serious relationship they enter into the partner will be informed and will be told the consequences of having a relationship with them, say if they have children etc. They cannot rock up anywhere for a job and they cannot live anywhere they chose.

They were children, children with terrible lives, it is not black and white, you do not have to be horrified by what happened and want them to hounded by moronic vigilantes or think they should rot in prison, the majority of people were horrified by what they did but believe in rehibilitation and feel that society let them down, something that we should never allow to happen again.

Mintyy sub-slug intelligence Grin yy too true.

somewherewest · 16/02/2013 19:48

Sadly many children have horrible childhoods (mine was fairly grim and included witnessing serious violence). The vast vast majority do not do with those two did. I agree that their backgrounds should've been taken into account as to some degree a mitigating factor, but both made a series of very calculated and evil choices in what they did to a tiny defenceless child. My heart isn't exactly bleeding.

pigletmania · 16/02/2013 19:53

Exactly somewherewest, that explains why they did it, it does not provide an excuse for it

StrawberryGateaux · 16/02/2013 20:16

Exactly somewherewest, my heart doesn't bleed either!

StrawberryGateaux · 16/02/2013 20:18

And oh wow they are on liscence, whoopie-do, it's the very least they deserve tbh.
Being a damanged child is no excuse for such barbaric, disturbing behaviour.

rodandtheemu · 16/02/2013 20:19

YARBU I have actually seen two sets of pics so his them, hope that some poor soul dosnt get attacked over it.
I agree with summer somewhere and piglet
At ten you know that toruring a toddler to death is wrong. They shouldnt have been let out, rehabilitation dosnt work for every one and as proven some slip under the net. The authorities didnt keep such a good eye on Venables did they?

I dont think the majority of society feel that V and T had been let down and believe that they are capable of rehabilitation at all and im not moronic or a vigilante, just a mother of two, who feels that they should not be allowed back in to socity after their heinous act.

I find it hard to believe that some people actually see these men as poor hounded children and should be allowed there human right to try and live a normal life? ........Thats what up with this country. God help all those bleeding hearts that nothing this monsterous ever happens to a loved one of theirs and see how they would feel about it then.

Fairylea · 16/02/2013 20:39

I agree with you rodandtheemu.

They should never ever have been let out.

They had difficult childhoods but no worse than a lot of people. People who do not go on to commit any crimes, yet alone something like that.

At 10 years old they did not only have their family to look to for their moral compass, they had also had 5 years of school and socialising. They knew what they did was wrong.

I also agree if people knew the full story of what happened to James bulger they would agree they should never have been let out.

pigletmania · 16/02/2013 20:43

I know it's shocking fairylea his last moments filled with fear and wanting his mummy Sad. My heart bleeds for that little boy and his family not two boys who knew what they were doing, and committed a premeditated crime

Fairylea · 16/02/2013 20:47

Absolutely piglet.

I won't post the details here but they left the judge and jury in no doubt whatsoever that both boys were cunning and wicked.

I makes me really angry that people keep going on about their difficult and abusive childhoods or the fact they were children themselves. Neither excuse or explain such absolutely vile horrific behaviour.

pigletmania · 16/02/2013 20:47

They set out to abduct a child that day and they did just that. When I was 7 some bully girls I bumped into the local swimming pool. They were about 11, they held me under the water and tred to sit on me, a lifeguard saw and intervened. Yes children if that age generally are aware if their actions

pigletmania · 16/02/2013 20:48

These girls I knew them, came from good homes and families

TwistedReach · 16/02/2013 20:57

Those of you who are saying, 'they knew what they did was wrong'- what then do you think made them do this? What do you think makes somebody do something like this? Because I imagine like me, this would be an unimaginable thing for you to do or have done, so what do you think happens?

Fairylea · 16/02/2013 20:59

Personally I think some people are just born with an evil streak that slowly reveals itself. A bit like I believe paedophiles cannot be treated or cured, they are what they are.

Harsh but that's what I believe.

AgentZigzag · 16/02/2013 20:59

Wouldn't that say children don't necessarily have to be neglected to do nasty things piglet?

V and T together were said to be more than the sum of their parts and wouldn't have done it if they were on their own, that could explain what made the difference and they were able to cross the line.

IneedAsockamnesty · 16/02/2013 21:00

There may very well be people on this thread who do know the details of both the crime and the boys time in prison as well as the details regarding the release,and subsequent related info since the boys turned into men, who agree with the steps that were taken.

But of course they would be prohibited by law from saying so.