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James Bulger's Speaks Of Her Disgusted As Film About Son’s Murder Nominated For An Oscar

Harvey Day

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James Bulger's Speaks Of Her Disgusted As Film About Son’s Murder Nominated For An Oscar

Featured Image Credit: Detainment / Vincent Lambe / Twelve Media

The mother of murdered toddler James Bulger has said she is 'disgusted' that a film about her son's murder has been nominated for an Oscar.

The short film Detainment, from Irish writer and director Vincent Lambe, is based on police transcripts of the infamous killers Jon Venables and Robert Thompson, who murdered the two-year-old in Merseyside in 1993.

Bulger's mother Denise Fergus revealed she was "angry and upset" as the film earned a nomination for an Academy Award on Tuesday 22nd January.

James Bulger (left) was killed in 1993 and his mother (right) is disgusted by this latest film. Credit: PA Images
James Bulger (left) was killed in 1993 and his mother (right) is disgusted by this latest film. Credit: PA Images
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"I cannot express how disgusted and upset I am that this so-called film has been made and now nominated for an Oscar," Denise Fergus tweeted.

"It's one thing making a film like this without contacting or getting permission from James's family but another to have a child re-enact the final hours of James's life before he was brutally murdered and making myself and my family have to relive this all over again!

"After everything I've said about this so called film and asking for it to be removed, it's still been nominated for an Oscar even though over 90,000 people have signed a petition which has now been ignored just like my feelings by the Academy.

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"I'm so angry and upset at this present time. I personally want to thank everyone that has signed the petition up to now and hopefully will carry on supporting me in this.

"I just hope the film doesn't win it's category in the Oscars."

The film's director, who admitted he did not seek permission from Bulger's family, earlier released a statement apologising for any hurt he might have caused. "I have enormous sympathy for the Bulger family and I am extremely sorry for any upset the film may have caused them," he said. "With hindsight, I am sorry I didn't make Mrs Fergus aware of the film.

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"The film was not made for financial gain and nobody involved in the making of the film intends to profit from it."

Robert Thompson and Jon Venables, both 10 years old, abducted toddler James from a shopping centre in Bootle, Merseyside, in February 1993. His body was found mutilated two days later on a railway line and Thompson and Venables were found guilty of the killing, becoming the youngest convicted murderers in modern British history.

The pair were released at the age of 18 and were both given new identities.

More than 100,000 people now have signed a petition asking the Oscars, which will be held Sunday 24th February, to disqualify the 30-minute film.

Topics: TV News

Harvey Day
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