James Bulger was murdered 26 years ago tomorrow, in a horrific case which shocked the nation, not least because of the ages of his killers. Youngsters Robert Thompson and Jon Venables were both ten years old when they abducted and tortured the two-year-old to death in Bootle, Merseyside on February 12, 1993. Two days later the toddler’s body was found on railway tracks, with multiple injuries including severe skull fractures.
The 2018 short film 'Detainment', by Irish director Vincent Lambe, dramatised the police interviews of Thompson and Venables from verbatim transcripts taken in 1993.
This year, it will be part of the nominations for the 91st Academy Awards, which will take place on February 25, in the category of best live action short film.
Voting commences on February 12 for the Oscar nomination, however James Bulger’s mother Ms Fergus and her husband Stuart have asked for the film to be withdrawn from consideration.
The husband and wife spoke with Irish television station RTE, and ITV’s Good Morning, about how they have been affected by the film and its high-profile Oscar nomination.
Denise Fergus has asked fro 'Deaitnemnt' to be withdrawn from Oscar consideration (Image: PA)
Ms Fergus said she found out about the film just before Christmas, but thought “it’s just one of those things that will come and go”.
However, she decided to speak out when the film gained more prominence due to its Oscar shortlisting.
She said: “None of us were contacted over this - we were hit with it.
“It’s reliving the nightmare.
“To see that still of James being led to his death by them two, and then to see it again by actors, it’s heart-rending.”
Ten-year-old Jon Venables and Robert Thompsoni police photos from 1993 (Image: Getty)
A promontional image for the film (Image: VL)
She also said that she would not have dismissed the film out of hand if she had been contacted by Vincent Lambe about it.
Ms Fergus explained: “I would have asked him to let me see what the film was going to be about. I wouldn’t have
