In this week's Closer magazine, we speak exclusively to James Bulger's mum Denise Fergus about the day her life changed forever...
In February, it will be 25 years since the abduction and murder of James Bulger.
In this week's Closer magazine, his mum Denise Fergus opens up about that fateful day, and reveals why she will never be able to forgive her son's killers.
Little James was just one month away from his third birthday when he was abducted and brutally murdered by Robert Thompson and Jon Venables.
The shocking case gripped the nation - not least because his killers were just 10-years-old.
In recent years, the disturbing case has been back in the news.
John Venables, who was given a new identity when he was freed in 2001 at the age of 18, waslocked up once againafter police discovered child abuse images on his computer.
And Terence Riley - one of the boys who discovered James' mutilated body - claimed the trauma of the discovery led him to a life of crime when he was jailed for drug offenses.
Talking to Closer, Denise, 50, admitted she felt overwhelming guilt for her son's murder, and has never been able to shake the feeling that it was partly her fault.
She was also adamant that she would "never forgive" her son's killers, adding that she "hated them" for taking James.
Denise also described how she had asked to see her son one last time after his body was recovered, but was advised by police not to.
She said: "When I think back now, though, I'm glad I get to remember his cheeky face the way it always looked, with his smile and mischievous eyes."
Denise, who has now set up the James Bulger Memorial Trust, also appeared on Loose Women to talk about the anniversary.
She explained: "It might be 25 years but it doesn’t feel like 25 years to me. I never got to see James grow up.
"He never got to know his first day at school, he didn’t get the chance to do that. I still see him as a baby, I can’t see him being a young man. It’s really weird.
"My other boys have grown up before my eyes. It’s amazing to see them. I love seeing that but there’s always that one missing."
WATCH: Denise Fergus opens up about life 25 years on from her son's abduction and murder
Talking about the moment her life changed forever, Denise - who has since gone on to have three more sons - explained: "It was so, so quick,
"He came into the shop with me, he stood at the side of me, I had hold of his hand and I said to him, ‘Wait there, stay there.’
"As I turned to get my bag and my purse to pay, I looked down and he’d gone. The person I was with was standing on the other side of the shop, I shouted over to her, ‘Where’s James?’ and she went, ‘Oh, he’ll just be outside’ and I’m going, ‘He shouldn’t be outside!’"
Heartbreakingly, she was only minutes behind the murderers - but went the wrong way: "That’s when I run out and unfortunately I took the wrong turning. They were going one way as I went the other.
"There’s only two ways you can go. Unfortunately I went the wrong way."
Read Closer's full interview with Denise in this week's Closer Magazine - on sale now.
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