James Bulger's killer Jon Venables' latest legal fight to keep his identity secret has cost taxpayers £65,000
Jon Venables’ latest legal fight to hide his identity has reportedly cost taxpayers more than £65,000.
According to The Sun, Venables’ lawyers were granted £8,100 in legal aid to fight an attempt by his victim James Bulger’s father to reveal his identity.
The newspaper reports that with £57,300 paid to Government lawyers representing Venables, the fight has cost more than £65,000.
That takes the total amount that the 36-year-old has cost the public since his murder of two-year-old James in 1993 to more than £320,000, it says.
Venables and Robert Thompson were both given new identities following their release from custody for the murder of James when they were ten.
Thompson hasn’t reoffended but Venables was convicted of having indecent images of children in 2010 and again in February last year and is currently back in jail.
James Bulger’s father is fighting to have his identity revealed, saying he is a threat to children.
The 52-year-old, who was denied legal aid, lost the case after a judge said lifting the ban on Venables’ identity could have fatal consequences.
