James Bulger: the story that shocked the world
5/21/202646 min
James Bulger was just 2 years old when he was abducted, tortured and murdered by 10 year olds Robert Thompson and Jon Venables in Liverpool in 1993. The story made headlines around the world, and in this episode, Andy & Neil hear from LBC presenter Shelagh Fogarty, who followed the case closely and knows James Bulger's family well.
Shelagh recalls what it was like to sit in the courtroom as the 10 year olds became Britain's youngest-ever convicted murderers, and becomes emotional when describing the impact that covering this shocking case continues to have on her to this day. She also tries to answer a question that has troubled the country ever since: why did they do it?
Andy, Neil & Shelagh also discuss James's legacy, the campaigning work done by his mother Denise, and whether it was right for Venables & Thompson to be tried as adults and held criminally responsible for their actions. They explain why this case still matters decades later, and ask whether society has learned the right lessons from a crime that still haunts the country to this day.
Warning: please note this episode includes content that some listeners might find distressing.
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First 90 secondsSpeaker 00:00
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Shelagh Fogarty· Guest0:36
How in God's name did she get out of bed the next day when that boy's body had been found in the state it was in? This is a hideous crime.
Andy Hughes· Host0:45
Mm.
Shelagh Fogarty· Guest0:45
It's been proved they planned it.
Andy Hughes· Host0:47
Mm.
Shelagh Fogarty· Guest0:47
Knew what they were doing.
Andy Hughes· Host0:48
Mm.
Shelagh Fogarty· Guest0:48
And did it. Show them the consequences of their actions. They looked like the epitome of shame.
Andy Hughes· Host0:54
Really?
Shelagh Fogarty· Guest0:54
They, they looked broken and ashamed.
Andy Hughes· Host0:57
Wow.
Shelagh Fogarty· Guest0:57
And as soon as those tapes started and he knew that we were all hearing his voice and his story, he literally hid himself- Wow ... in the lapels of his coat. And he said to the police officer before they'd left the room, "We did it." You only have to say it to me once and it, it comes back. You know, just the sheer horror of it really is what I'm talking about. It's ages afterwards, and I sometimes wondered, "Well, why so, why do you cry about this so instantly when you think about it?" You know, "Why does it just get you right in the guts?" I've concluded that it should.
Unknown speaker1:28
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