James Bulger: Social Media Users Face Jail for Revealing Killer’s ID

Jon Venables, 10 years of age, poses for a mugshot for British authorities Feb. 20, 1993 in the United Kingdom. Both Venables and Robert Thompson were 10 years-old when they tortured and killed 2 year-old James Bulger in Bootle, England. Photo Courtesy of BWP Media via Getty Images

Social media users could go to jail for revealing the identity of infamous child-killer Jon Venables, as prisoners say his identity is known with a “price on his head.”

Venables was given a new identity when he was released on parole in 2001, having spent eight years imprisoned for the murder of two-year-old James Bulger. Venables himself was 10 at the time of the murder.

His identity has since been protected by a worldwide injunction with authorities fearing reprisals for the murder, during which the toddler was tortured by Venables and his schoolfriend Robert Thompson, also aged 10.

At least a dozen social media users now face criminal action for breaking that injunction and exposing his identity, according to the Times.

A spokesman for the Attorney General’s office said, “We have received a complaint that the anonymity order has been breached and we are investigating,” the Independent reported.

An undated photo of 2 year-old James Bulger, tortured and killed by Jon Venables and Robert Thompson in Bootle, England, in 1993. BWP Media via Getty Images

Last month, the Sun reported that Venables was back in jail having broken the terms of his parole by having child abuse images on his computer.

But his identity is known to the prison wardens, who don’t care that the other prisoners learn it.

The Sun quotes a source in the prison where Venables is kept as saying it was common knowledge he was there from the moment he arrived.

“The screws were talking about it because they don’t care who knows,” the source said.

“There’s a price on his head and most of the jail would like to have a pop at him but no one will be able to get to him.”

According to The Sun, three sources within the prison say that Venables is being escorted to the visiting room by three prison guards.

In 2013 two people were given suspended 9-month sentences for breaching the banning order on Venables identity.

The court was warned at the time that the sentences were lenient because of mitigating circumstances and that anyone breeching the ban in future would face custodial sentences of 2 years.

“If there is publication on the internet or through social media after the date of this hearing, then there will be little prospect of escape from a significant custodial sentence without a prospect of suspension,” President of the Queen’s Bench Division, Sir John Thomas said, according to the Attorney General’s Office.

A statement from the Attorney General’s Office at the time said: “The General Attorney’s Office in a statement notes that the injunction is worldwide and applies equally to the internet, social media and mainstream media.”

The family of James Bulger has been calling for the identity of his killers to be officially revealed.

After finding out about Venables’ recall to prison, Bulger’s mother, Denise Fergus tweeted last month “here we go again.”

Mother of murdered toddler James Bulger, Denise Fergus and husband Stuart Fergus leave the Old Bailey on July 23, 2010 in London, England. Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

In a Facebook post, she added, “I’m absolutely fuming that once again I’m last to know, that this has happened a week ago and I only got informed just hours before it’s hit the press.”

Venables was jailed with his 10-year-old school friend Robert Thompson for killing two-year-old James in Merseyside in 1993.

Robert Thompson, 10 years of age, poses for a mugshot for British authorities February 20, 1993 in the United Kingdom. Both Thompson and Jon Venables were 10 years-old when they tortured and killed 2 year-old James Bulger in Bootle, England. Photo Courtesy of BWP Media via Getty Images

The young boys abducted the toddler at a shopping centre in Bootle, Merseyside, then tortured and murdered him. His battered body was found by a railway line.

The duo was released when they were 18 years old in 2001 under new identities, despite public outcry.

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