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Straw will meet Bulger's mother Venables claims serious - Straw
(about 23 hours later)
Justice Secretary Jack Straw has agreed to meet the mother of James Bulger after one of the two-year-old's killers was taken back into custody. James Bulger's killer Jon Venables was recalled to prison because of "extremely serious allegations", Justice Secretary Jack Straw has said.
Mr Straw acted after Jon Venables, who was released from prison in 2001, breached the terms of his licence. He was released in 2001 on licence with a new identity after serving eight years for the murder of the toddler on Merseyside in 1993.
He and Robert Thompson became the UK's youngest murderers when aged 10 they killed James in Merseyside in 1993. A report in the Sun newspaper claims Venables, now 27, is alleged to have committed a serious sexual offence.
Government sources have told the BBC James's mother Denise Fergus will not be told why Venables is back in jail. Mr Straw is to meet James's mother to discuss the recent developments.
Mrs Fergus wrote to Mr Straw after Venables' was returned to custody earlier this week. Venables and Robert Thompson - both aged 10 - became the UK's youngest murderers after abducting the two-year-old from a shopping centre in Bootle, Merseyside.
A Ministry of Justice spokesman confirmed: "The justice secretary has received a request to meet with Mrs Fergus. He plans to make arrangements to do so." 'Right to know'
'Abhorrent crime' Since the news broke that Venables breached his licence and had been returned to jail, ministers have refused to release details of his alleged offence.
Details of how Venables, now 27, breached his licence have not so far been released, although Home Secretary Alan Johnson has said he believes the public have a right to know. On Wednesday, the Home Secretary Alan Johnson said he believed the public "had a right to know".
However, so far Mr Straw - backed by the prime minister - has said the secrecy surrounding the breach was in the public interest, although he understood the "outrage" people might be feeling.
Jon Venables was released from prison under licence conditionsJon Venables was released from prison under licence conditions
On Thursday, Gordon Brown said: "I can rightly understand the public outrage, even after so many years. But Justice Secretary Jack Straw, appearing to overrule the minister, insisted that secrecy was in the public interest - and he was later backed by the prime minister.
"But the public know that we cannot comment on individual cases that are going through the system and I think the justice secretary explained the particular constraints in this case. In a statement issued by the Ministry of Justice, Mr Straw said: "I was unable to give further details of the reasons for Jon Venables' return to custody, because it was not in the public interest to do so.
"But I want to be absolutely clear that what matters here is that the justice system is allowed to run its course and that justice is done, whatever wrongs are committed." "Our motivation throughout has been solely to ensure that some extremely serious allegations are properly investigated and that justice is done."
Earlier this week, Mrs Fergus said Venables was back "where he belongs, behind bars". The BBC's Home Affairs correspondent, Danny Shaw, said government solicitors attempted to prevent The Sun publishing full details of the allegations against Venables.
On her Twitter account, she said: "I've always said that there are more good people than bad in this world, and the messages I'm still receiving proves it." Government sources have also told the BBC that James's mother, Denise Fergus, will not be told why he is back in jail.
James was abducted by Venables and Thompson while at the Strand shopping centre in Bootle. All kinds of horrible thoughts were going through my head, and they still are because no one will tell me what he's done Denise FergusJames Bulger's mother
New identities Mrs Fergus told the Daily Mail she was angry that the Parole Board had not told her that her son's murderer had been returned to custody.
His battered body was found by children playing on a freight railway line more than two miles from the shopping centre. She said the authorities had broken their promise to keep her informed.
The killers were given life sentences, but released in 2001 with new identities and under certain licence conditions. She told the paper: "Why can't the government be honest and tell us what he's done?"
Mrs Fergus, 42, accused the government of leading a "massive cover-up" because they did not want to admit that money spent on concealing Venables' and Thompson's identities had been "a complete waste".
She added: "All kinds of horrible thoughts were going through my head, and they still are because no one will tell me what he's done.
"It's wrong - as James's mother, I have a right to know."
Mrs Fergus said she had repeatedly asked for information about Venables' case during a meeting with a Probation Service officer.
"I threw question after question at her, but she blocked every one," she told the newspaper.
'Right to know'
Marie McCourt, from the charity Support After Murder and Manslaughter (Samm) on Merseyside, added her voice to those calling for Mrs Fergus to be told.
"If he is guilty of having broken those restrictions and/or committed any other serious offence then of course the family of the victim has a right to know," she said. "They above everybody have that right to know."
James Bulger's battered body was found by children playing on a freight railway line more than two miles from the shopping centre in February 1993.
Thompson and Venables were given life sentences, but released in 2001 with new identities and under certain licence conditions.
A court order prevents details being published which could reveal their whereabouts.A court order prevents details being published which could reveal their whereabouts.
Venables is due to appear before a hearing of the Parole Board which will consider the reason for his recall to prison.
The outcome of such hearings are not usually made public but a board spokesman said it was likely the result would be released because of the high profile nature of the case.