James Bulger

Good point Anniebach. What kind of example were those people setting to their own chikdren

Quote flappergirl Thu 13-Feb-25 19:41:18
Allira
What they did was horrible no doubt about it -but how sections of the public were up was just as bad.

No, it was not just as bad.
Agreed. Of course it wasn't just as bad. How can anyone honestly say that.

We don’t know what they would have done to the children ,
is uncontrolled anger excusable but not the emotions of the
two children ?

It still brings tears to eyes just to think about that poor little boy.

Allira

^What they did was horrible no doubt about it -but how sections of the public were up was just as bad.^

No, it was not just as bad.

Agreed. Of course it wasn't just as bad. How can anyone honestly say that.

Franbern

The press loved this story, and ensured that every possible grizzly details regarding any of the three children was there to be salivated over. Of course, this was the only country in Europe where the two boys would have been tried in open, adult court - not even tall enough to be able to see over the witness box.
What they did was horrible no doubt about it -but how sections of the public were up was just as bad. I can remember newspaper and tv photos of adults with their own children sitting on their shoulders chasing after the police van and battering it. Disgusting!!!

Sadly, only one of those two have been rehabilitated, the other has to remain incarcerated.

I was so relieved to read this point of view, which is the same as mine. I was afraid to post it, because I thought I would be shouted down. At the time, I remember feeling completely sick not only about the tragedy, but about the uncivilised treatment of the two small boys, who in many countries would have been considered below the age of criminal responsibility..

I can still see little James being led away by those two boys it's a image I'll never forget,

If they could have reached those boys at that time what would they done, such rage

Anniebach

The adults banging on the van was vile. 2 ten year old children.
if they had reached the children , what ?

I feel and felt very dmsad for little James, truly alful for him, and his family.
The above said I still shudder when I remember grown ups banging on the van with children in it screaming and shouting hang them. The crowd were absolutly savage.

The adults banging on the van was vile. 2 ten year old children.
if they had reached the children , what ?

In contrast 1994 Norway had two younger boys set upon a girl they were playing with. They were not put in prison and were not judged

I remember that case, mokryna. And if my memory serves me correct they were back in their school a couple of weeks later.

James Bulger case was horrifying. But not the first. Mary Bell killed two little boys in the 60s.

Iam64

NonGrannyMoll - the boys who murdered James were from neglectful, abusive parenting.
Their needs for secure attachments, appropriate boundaries etc were not met.

Patrick Bulger Suffered an horrific death. However, those boys how ever savage they were, shouldn’t have been taken to an adult court. They were not mentally developed. I have never seen crowds baying for blood as those after the boys in court. The nation judge the child killers.
The two boys’ parents should have been charged with negligence.

In contrast 1994 Norway had two younger boys set upon a girl they were playing with. They were not put in prison and were not judged.

To be honest, I don't know which boy my colleague was responsible for. Professionally, he would never have said. But he shared with me that the programme of psychotherapy and education was intense.
The hardest part for the child to accept was the consistent, strict discipline.
Perhaps this was the other boy, I don't know.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Poor little boy, I remember it well too. Tragic.

A good friend, and one of my most highly caring teachers, took the job of "tutor" to one of the boys in a local authority secure home here in the South West in the mid 90s. It was hugely challenging, to say the least, and he only told me about it later on when the child in question was long past 16 and had been moved on. I think someone said upthread, disturbed.

NonGrannyMoll - the boys who murdered James were from neglectful, abusive parenting.
Their needs for secure attachments, appropriate boundaries etc were not met.

It was horrendously shocking at the time because the perpetrators were only children themselves. And how far down that greasy pole our society has slid in 32 years, hasn't it? Knives, boots, baseball bats, your mum's kitchen scissors - any weapon is now par for the course with young thugs, it seems. Since the James Bulger case, we seem to have learned very little about how we bring up little boys. Still, I guess that's part & parcel of "child-driven learning". Sheesh.

What they did was horrible no doubt about it -but how sections of the public were up was just as bad.

No, it was not just as bad.

I remembered about this crime too yesterday. We visited a place where we had also visited around the time this happened and it came back to me. I cannot comprehend how his poor mother and father dealt with it. My heart goes out to them and his siblings who have grown up not knowing a brother who was taken in the most appalling way imaginable.

RIP little James 💐

So sad, and not something that anyone can easily forget. James (not Jamie, by the way - that was what some of the press, not his family, called him, I believe) will not be forgotten.

One of the boys who murdered James responded well to the care in the secure unit. The other didn’t and is back Inside. Life licence means exactly that. Breach conditions and you return to custody.
Both boys had the kind of childhood experiences that could damage their minds and obviously did.
I share the views Franbern expressed about the trial, the press and the behaviour of some adults towards two children. This does not mean I, not repelled by what they did. Secure accommodation then adult prison, kept separately was the only course available

The press loved this story, and ensured that every possible grizzly details regarding any of the three children was there to be salivated over. Of course, this was the only country in Europe where the two boys would have been tried in open, adult court - not even tall enough to be able to see over the witness box.
What they did was horrible no doubt about it -but how sections of the public were up was just as bad. I can remember newspaper and tv photos of adults with their own children sitting on their shoulders chasing after the police van and battering it. Disgusting!!!

Sadly, only one of those two have been rehabilitated, the other has to remain incarcerated.

Very, very sad case. I hope Denise and Jamie’s Dad are coping ok. Time eases the pain, though it will never go away.

I was deeply affected, wish I hadn't read about it, I had a 3 year old and a 6/7 year old at the time. I felt horror and so devastated for Denise and her husband.

We'll never forget that sweet little boy.
Thinking of Denise Bulger today.

Yes, we have all probably experienced the panic of realising our child is not right there next to us however careful we are.

Poor Jamie.

Yes, I know that feeling well of losing sight - the panic and horror is indescribable.