Little Boy Blue

I am,Grannyknot,brilliant viewing,some of those mothers,god help the kids.

Yes it makes for sad viewing, I agree with Marmark about those parents.

Yes we aare watching. It's heartbreaking.

I am watching too Grannyknot. I found the first episode heartbreaking and my son warned me not to watch it. Seeing the artificial grass and the goal posts in the garden just reminds me of my little 7 year old, footy mad, grandson. My son has created a little mini-pitch for him at the side of the back garden and its almost identical to the one little Rhys had. Poor little lamb.

Like others have said I can't understand the mentality of the mothers trying to cover up such a brutal act. I can't remember the names but (the house that's bugged) the parents are almost condoning what their vile, monster of a son has done. Would that evidence be allowed in court though? Just wondering.

My son says that the lad who eventually grasses"tells all" has had to be given a new identity. I can understand why.

I decided not to watch, I seem to be easily upset these days !'

I think maybe you did right grannylyn It is very sad. Especially when it's true.

I found it too voyaistic so stopped watching I know the family had to agree to it being made but it felt uncomfortable viewing for me That's probably just me

The focus is on the police investigation and the community (so I don't feel that it is voyeuristic), much as the previous one on Shannon Matthews (I think it is made by the same producer). It doesn't linger where it doesn't have to.

gilly I wonder whether it is that boy from the nice family who was bullied in to hiding that gun. I feel very sorry for him.

I also feel sorry for the mother who wants to do the right thing, I can't begin to think what it must be like to have a giant son like hers who is impossible to control.

The most touching moment for me was when the hospital staff said that a hospital porter had gone out to get and made the bed where he was laid out, in all the Everton gear when he heard that Rhys had been a fan. How lovely. Gives one faith in humanity despite some of the other characters.

This case had me in tears when it was on the news at the time, it only seems like yesterday. I am watching this dramatization though, it gives more of an in sight into the police`s side of things as well as the families.

Am watching it, feel so sorry for the the decent families involved with those vile bullies, they are like that because of the parents they have, they never stood a chance since they drew breath. That large boy was beaten within an inch of his life, his frustration and bad language is fear, a prisoner in his own home for two years, that family should have been moved and rehoused as his family are hardworking and doing the right thing. The boy that his the gun again out of fear from those bullies, don't know what happens to them but the hate goes through them like a stick of rock and can't see them ever having an ounce of humanity in them. Brilliantly acted and sensitively done. Heart goes out to Ryys's family, they live with this every day. It shows there are far more honest good people in the world and how a few can ruin lives.

I'm not sure Grannyknot but I would imagine it would be him and/or the big lad mentioned by Lucky who took his anger out on his mum but was clearly terrified of the gang. At least his mum thank fully did the right thing and made an honest statement to the police, unlike most of the other parents.

I don't see it as voyeuristic at all BlueBelle just showing the complexity of the investigation when the police knew who had done it quite early on, but then struggled to get the essential proof they needed. Just shows how fragile life is doesn't it? Poor little boy doing his football training one minute and shot dead the next.

Gangs are such a worry for some young people and their families. If you're in the gang you could be lead into all sorts of trouble and if you are out of the gang you are likely to be bullied by them.

I am so glad my DGC are sports mad. Hopefully as they get older, they will concentrate on that and mix with nice likeminded children and families along the way.

Happenings like these are what make me so angry when I see trailers for programmes on TV such as the upcoming one on CH5 about youthful gangs. To me it`s just helping them to glorify what they do.

No glorification in this production callgirl1. The offenders are shown as cowardly, unfeeling, and ignorant. Rhys's family and the other decent families are the heroes.

I know Trisher, I`ve been watching it, as well as clearly remembering the case at the time.

Yes, I'm watching it. I think it has been well made, and in no way glorifies the gang members. I think Rhys's family have been very brave allowing the programme to go ahead. I'm not sure I could have done it. I remember the incident, and was horrified by it. The gang members and some of the Parents were truly callous. I don't know if fear of the consequences of their actions made them lie the way they did, but the programme highlights their ruthlessness and deviousness. The acting is superb. I imagine the actors must have been deeply affected.

I don't see that at all callgirl - the Little Boy Blue just shows them up as the moronic thugs they, and their families, actually are.

As for the upcoming programme on gangs, how can you judge before you've seen it?

I didn`t mean that Little Boy Blue was glorifying gang members, I was talking about the programme on CH 5 about street gangs, saying that I thought these programmes glorify them, WRONGLY. Sorry if I caused any confusion.
Anya, I don`t want to see the programme.

This was an excellent series. Showing the gang members and their vile families for what they were. The nurse who bravely gave evidence, that ensured the conviction, was in my eyes a heroine, her son had been so badly beaten up and traumatised, but she still stood up in that witness box. The lad in the police protection scheme, I wonder how he is now, he was so brave. The man that led that investigation was brilliant, as were his team, how could the police pass him over for promotion after that? I didn't care for the heartless way he was told, no hint of compassion or understanding, I found that depressing, we have people like that in powerful positions.

Did I miss something? Did the police really bug the home of a suspect, and use the recordings in court as evidence. I hope I am mistaken!

Yes they did and quite rightly so, no PC tip-toeing round criminals of this ilk.

Why do you object to the homes of suspected criminals being bugged and conversations listened to pensionpat?
It has led to many convictions for drug dealers and is strictly controlled- it's called intrusive surveillance
"An authorisation for the use of intrusive surveillance can only be given by the home secretary, a chief constable, the director of the Serious Organised Crime Agency (or another designated official from Soca), designated officials from HM Revenue and Customs and the chairman of the Office of Fair Trading. (There is provision for authorisations to be made by other senior officials in the absence of the chief constable etc.) The person granting the authorisation may only do so if he/she considers that the authorisation is necessary in the interests of national security, for the purpose of preventing or detecting serious crime or in the interests of the economic well-being of the country, and that the surveillance is proportionate to what is sought to be achieved by it. (All three grounds do not apply in all cases and in the case of the OFT an authorisation can only be granted if it is considered necessary for the purposes of investigating a cartel offence.)"

I thought this programme was great. Well written and acted, very moving. Felt sorry for the Chief Inspector who worked so hard and wasn't made a permanent Chief Superintendent.