There are fears for the life of child killer Jon Venables as prisoners in the jail where he is being secretly held discover his true identity.
It is reported that hardened lags in the undisclosed top security prison where Venables know of his presence and are looking for an opportunity to hurt or even kill him.
Jon Venables along with Robert Thompson was sent to prison when he was only 10-years old for the horrific torture and killing of 2-year old toddler James Bulger in Liverpool in 1993.
He was released on license in 2001 after spending less than 10 years in jail. Venables and Thompson were given new identities and strict rules, including not visiting Liverpool, that if broken would result in them being returned behind bars.
Last week Venables was arrested and returned to prison for breaking the rules. The police and Home Secretary Jack Straw have refused to say what Venables has done. It is thought that he has returned to Liverpool on a number of occasions where he has reportedly been seen drunk.
The murder of Jamie Bulger by two children shocked not only Liverpool and the UK but the world. That two so young could commit such a crime horrified people. Many thought that the two boys Venables and Thompson should be jailed for their whole lives others thought that they should be treated in prison and released which is what happened.
The fact that they were so young made for some their crimes worse but this of course cannot be so. Murder is murder at whatever age and one would not expect them to be punished more than an older killer.
Gordon Brown has indicated that he feels while understanding the public outrage at such crimes the criminal justice system needs to be allowed to conduct its business in accordance with law so that 'justice is seen to be done'.
Meanwhile thousands of pounds a week are being spent on prison officer overtime as Venables is put under constant surveillance in a perspex fronted cell. He will with certainty eventually be released again and have to be given another new identity, a new place to live.
mahonia flowers
a stirring deep down
in the ants' nest
Paul Conneally
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