Irvine would not ban boy's killers' book

LORD IRVINE, the Lord Chancellor, was plunged into fresh controversy yesterday after he said that the boys who murdered James Bulger should be allowed to write a book about their crime.

In a comment that drew criticism from both James's mother and opposition politicians, Lord Irvine said such an account could "add to the sum total of human knowledge".

"I obviously don't find it attractive that somebody can earn money from giving an account of a criminal activity," he said. "On the other hand I cannot bring myself to prohibit it, because of the public interest in knowing about these things, so I think there is a balance." He added: "I don't think anyone would find it attractive - but the sum total of human knowledge is added to."

Robert Thompson and JonVenables were detained at Her Majesty's pleasure after they were convicted of murdering James Bulger. The pair were aged just 10 when, in February 1993, they abducted two-year-old James from a shopping centre in Bootle, Merseyside, before leading him to disused land and beating him to death.

Yesterday James' mother, Denise Bulger, 30, said she was disgusted by the Lord Chancellor's comments. "I think the Lord Chancellor is totally wrong to allow anyone to cash in on my son's death - it makes me sick," she said. "He is almost encouraging someone to write a book by not banning it."

Lord Irvine made his comments at a regional newspaper conference last Friday. They were reported yesterday in the Liverpool Echo.

Yesterday a spokeswoman for the Lord Chancellor said the comments he made were general and not specific to any case.

Lord Irvine's comments appear to put him at odds with the Home Secretary, Jack Straw, who has said he that he does not believe criminals, including Thompson and Venables, should be allowed to profit from their crimes

Last night Conservative home affairs spokesman James Clappison said: "The Lord Chancellor must clarify his position on this most contentious of issues, as it appears he and the Home Secretary are on a collision course."