I wanted to acknowledge the anguish of the parents and wider family of James Bulger. But my best and wisest ally, as usual, was Petal, who listened, read, transcribed, and tolerated my complete absorption in the case. Gwyneth and the report taught me a great deal and, in a way, her insight was a starting point for The Sleep Of Reason. Some time before James Bulger died, I met Dr Gwyneth Boswell of the University of East Anglia who had produced a report for The Prince’s Trust about young people who commit serious crimes. Thanks to Jamie Bruce, because he deserves it. Thanks, randomly, to Jane Gregory, Georgina Capel, Julian Browne, Tim Hulse, Rosie Boycott and Sue Douglas. Dominic, more than anyone, contributed to the structure and shape of the narrative. I was grateful for the advice and support of the editor of this book, Mark Booth, and my friends Dominic Ozanne and John Pickering. Thanks also to Dominic Lloyd and Jason Lee of Paul Rooney and Co., solicitors for Robert Thompson, and to Sean Sexton who represents the family of James Bulger. I hope readers will see them as representative of the many officers involved in the inquiry. This doesn’t mean they solved the case on their own. I’ve characterised one or two police officers in the book. I’m grateful to all the officers who helped me, but special thanks are due to Jim Fitzsimmons, Albert Kirby, Brian Whitby and Ray Simpson. Merseyside Police offered considerable assistance, within the limits of their own concern about the disclosure of evidence in advance of the trial, when the bulk of this book was researched and written. Many other people on Merseyside were willing to give me their time and cooperation, despite the sensitivity of the subject. Neither money nor favours were ever asked for, offered or given.
They gave me their trust and confidence, and their friendship. They wanted to see the story told truly and without prejudice. The people who deserve most thanks for any merit in this book had better remain anonymous. Printed in England by Clays Ltd, St Ives plc This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.Ģ0 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London, SW1V 2SA
David James Smith has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as the author of this work.
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