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Oscars 2019: James Bulger's mother 'disgusted' at nomination for film about son's killing

The mother of murdered toddler James Bulger has said she is "disgusted" after a documentary about her son's death was nominated for an Oscar.

Irish filmmaker Vincent Lambe's short film Detainment is based on transcripts of police interviews with the toddler's killers Jon Venables and Robert Thompson.

The two-year-old was killed by the pair, both aged 10, after they snatched him from a shopping centre in Bootle, Merseyside, in February 1993.

Denise Fergus said she was "angry and upset" as the film earned a nomination for an Academy Award on Tuesday.

She had previously called for the film to be dropped from the Oscars shortlist and criticised the filmmakers for not requesting her permission ahead of its release.

A petition to stop the film being shown and remove it from the shortlist has gained more than 90,000 signatures since its launch two weeks ago.

James Bulger was abducted and killed in Merseyside (PA Archive/PA Images)
James Bulger was abducted and killed in Merseyside (PA Archive/PA Images)

Ms Fergus tweeted today: "I cannot express how disgusted and upset I am at this so called film that has been made and now nominated for an Oscar.

"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!

Jon Venables (PA)
Jon Venables (PA)

"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.

"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."

Robert Thompson (PA)
Robert Thompson (PA)

The 30-minute film is based on interview transcripts and records from the case and shows Venables and Thompson crying as detectives question them over James' death.

An agent representing Ms Fergus also expressed her anger following the announcement from the Oscars.

Kym Rowlingson claimed the Oscars "didn't listen" to the toddler's family's upset over the film.

She wrote in a post on Facebook: "I actually cannot believe what I’ve just watched!

"So The Oscars didn’t listen, despite several emails [and] over 91,000 signatures, the Director of the shocking disgraceful short film is up for an Oscar – when will poor Denise Fergus get a break from all of this! I’m so angry."

James's father Ralph Bulger condemned the film earlier this month, saying it was "offensive".

He told the Mirror that he was not contacted about the film and said he was left devastated by the portrayal of his son's murder.

Mr Lambe admitted in an appearance on Good Morning Britain that he did not contact the toddler's parents for permission before releasing the film.

Detainment was released last year and shown at a number of European film festivals.