Coroner shaken by details of boy's murder: Parents alerted to threat of strangers as the inquest into the death of James Bulger opens

The killing of two-year-old James Bulger was described by the Merseyside coroner yesterday as the most appalling murder he had come across in 25 years in his job.

Roy Barter opened the inquest into the death of the boy and then adjourned it until 17 May. Although used to dealing with gruesome cases, he was clearly shaken.

He said: 'I have spent the last hour having the circumstances surrounding the tragic death of this innocent child fully explained to me by Detective Superintendent Albert Kirby, senior officer in charge of the inquiry.

'All I will say is that this is the most dreadful and shocking murder inquest I have had to open in the course of the last 25 years as coroner for this sitting. The person or persons responsible must clearly be brought to justice and this must be done as speedily as possible.

'The tragic facts of the case underline how important it is for mothers to safeguard their children when they are in crowded places like shopping centres. 'It appears that the video film of the two boys who were seen leaving the Strand shopping centre with little James isn't of very good quality but I feel sure that somewhere out there there is somebody who has a pretty good idea who they are.'

Evidence of identification was given by Jim Bulger, the murdered boy's uncle, at the inquest. He confirmed that he had identified his nephew's body at a hospital in Liverpool on Sunday night.

Mr Bulger, 33, also described the shattering effect that the killing has had on the family when he spoke at a press conference yesterday. The boy's parents, Ralph and Denise Bulger, from Northwood, Kirkby, were too upset to appear.

Mr Bulger said: 'Denise and Ralph are totally devastated at what has happened. We are praying and hoping that whoever did this is caught very quickly before they have the chance to do it again. He was only a baby. If they can do that to him in broad daylight, I'm convinced they can do it again. If anyone knows anything at all, no matter how small, they must get in touch.'

Police have received thousands of calls about the murder and are working around the clock to process and check the information. A number for people to telephone was set up - 051 777 6488. Detectives hope that forensic examination of the hood from James's anorak, which was found in a tree, will yield vital clues.

Two men tried to snatch a three-year-old boy from the garden of his home in Bradford Abbas, near Sherborne, Dorset when his mother went inside for a few minutes yesterday afternoon. She returned to see one man offering sweets while the other was lifting the boy over the fence. She challenged the men, who fled. In Portadown, Co Armagh, a 12- year-old boy foiled an attempt to abduct him outside a school. Three men drove up in a car, and one got out and tried to seize the boy, who kicked him and ran.

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