By charonqc
Jack Straw was called to the house this afternoon at 3.30 to give a statement on the recall of Jon Venables to prison. The press speculation on Venables’ return has been quite extraordinary. Straw made it clear that he had every sympathy for the the parents of James Bulger – but at the request of the Police and DPP information on Venables was suppressed to ensure that there would be a fair trial.
Dominic Grieve, Shadow Justice Secretary, stated that the Justice Secretary was entitled to support but he had to earn that support by making a clear statement about the way the justice system worked. Grieve also stated that the Justice Secretary could have avoided all the press speculation had he been more clear about how the recall system works and to explain the need for a fair trial.
For my own part – the rule of law, the principle of fair trials, is more important than individual needs, and while I can well understand the distress of James Bulger’s family, a fair trial on the new offences would be impossible, in all likelihood, if more information was given at this stage. The mood of the house was with Straw’s position and the Rule of Law – thankfully.
The press has not been that helpful here and, I suspect, the reports they have published may well have added to the distress of James Bulger’s parents. I would go further and say that the press has followed its own needs, rather than the needs of the Bulger parents.
Dominic Grieve, Shadow Justice Secretary, stated that the Justice Secretary was entitled to support but he had to earn that support by making a clear statement about the way the justice system worked. Grieve also stated that the Justice Secretary could have avoided all the press speculation had he been more clear about how the recall system works and to explain the need for a fair trial.
For my own part – the rule of law, the principle of fair trials, is more important than individual needs, and while I can well understand the distress of James Bulger’s family, a fair trial on the new offences would be impossible, in all likelihood, if more information was given at this stage. The mood of the house was with Straw’s position and the Rule of Law – thankfully.
The press has not been that helpful here and, I suspect, the reports they have published may well have added to the distress of James Bulger’s parents. I would go further and say that the press has followed its own needs, rather than the needs of the Bulger parents.
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