The fact that they were ten years old isn’t irrelevant,it’s the complete heart of the whole discussion.
Quite rightly,you point out that the majority of children aren’t torturers and murderers.What was it then that made these children inclined to do something so terrible ? They weren’t creatures Jonesy,they were children.
Once again,I am absolutely not apologising for them,but it seems that the majority of posters are seeing them as deserving of adult status because of the extreme nature of what they did.Would you let a ten year old vote,drink alcohol,have sex ? No,because they’re not mature enough to deal with these things – in other words,they’re not adults.But almost without exception everyone who has posted has held them culpable of this crime as if they were adults.
Jonesy,you say there is no room for debate,but that’s rarely the case with any topic.
Would you hold the same opinion if you were the father of one of these boys ?

I’d like to put another question into the discussion,and before anyone starts having a go at me I’m NOT trying to excuse,explain or apologise for what those boys did.I think it’s scandalous that they’re already out of prison,and with Venables working as a bouncer in a night-club.No way can you call that justice.
Right then,we can all imagine in some small way how Jamie’s mother must feel.To everyone who’s posted : Would you stand by your opinion if you were Venables’ mother or father ?

Symon,I understand that you’re a father yourself.
Are you seriously suggesting that any father would choose to give the gift of life to a stranger rather than his own child,no matter how deserving the stranger or however stupid or whatever you like to call it,the child ? No way could I do that,my child comes first in my life no matter how she behaves.If that makes me too human,then that suits me fine.
I’m not admirable,I’m just old.

In an ideal world we would all take responsibility for ourselves and live as honest upright citizens,but that’s never going to happen.Helping the weak instead of dismissing them as inadequate and fully deserving to pay the ultimate price for their own stupidity is what makes us human,not mere animals.And for the umpteenth time,it’s not a question of choosing this young woman and depriving someone supposedly more deserving.The only liver available to her is her own father’s.

Tom Robinson –

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArGNB5M3Kg4&feature=related

It’s just been announced that the Justice Secretary Jack Straw will have a meeting with Jamie Bulger’s mother about Venables.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Bulger-Justice-Secretary-Jack-Straw-To-Meet-James-Bulgers-Mum-Denise-Fergus/Article/201003115568176?lpos=UK_News_Carousel_Region_0&lid=ARTICLE_15568176_Bulger%3A_Justice_Secretary_Jack_Straw_To_Meet_James_Bulgers_Mum_Denise_Fergus

That’s exactly my point Paul,children don’t commit murder,so if you find a pair that do,you treat them differently from adults,try to reason why,not just outright condemn them as evil.

The way I feel today,there isn’t a big enough bar.