James Bulger
Its amazing how an image can stick in one's mind. The image of James Bulger on the front page of the papers was really haunting for me and brought back a feeling of horror, revulsion, anger etc. What happened to that wee boy was horrific and not only did it proke consideration as to what has happened to some of our children, but an apparent leniency in the law.
I cant imagine the anguish the re-publication of the image of James being led away by those monsters Jon Venables and Robert Thompson. Terrible and all because Venables seems to be revelling in his own legend in his own mind. Continued brushes with the law shows a tendency to crime, though this is probably put down to remorse.
I hadnt thought of it before, but is it not wrong that Thomson and Venables are out and have been for some nine years? I find that sickening.
Think of what James Bulger has missed in the 17 years since his death? What a life he could be having now as a 19 year old enjoying himself. Not only James, but the loss felt by his mother and the guilt felt by those passersby who did nothing. Another 38 lives blighted.
But no, his murderers are fighting and being employed as a bouncer, a perfect role for violence, or living it up with their gay lover who knows about his past. Its enough to drive one to despair. They should be behind bars now and looking forward to a lifetime inside. No mercy.
Torture for James' Mum
This must be torture for James Bulger's Mum. It must be terrible to see those images again, as Anon said, and I now cos it gave me a chill seeing the image of James being led away by Venables and Thomson.
It is a hard one though. Being 10 years old when they murdered James, do we, the public, demand prison then adult prison and all the horrors that brings or do we try to rehabilitate them into becoming some form of citizen of the UK??? No idea. I for one was horrified at the crime, but at the same time, the mob mentality was also frightening, especially as they were baying for the blood of 10 year olds. Surely thats not right. They are as bad as Venables and Thomson if baying at children, no matter what they did.
Its a moral dilemma. How we punished these boys and how are they punished in the future, if at all... OK, so they go back inside if they commit a crime or breach the terms of their release, but they have been out for a while so was that the correct road to travel or should they have remained inside and gone on to adult prison.?
I think it would have appeased theb public anger if they had not been released, but there must have been a reason for the release so I cant be sure if it was correct or not. No matter how long they would have got, it wouldnt have been enough to feed the revenge of the public, but they were just boys....