PRESSURE was today mounting on the Government to come clean about Jon Venables’s return to prison.

The father of murdered toddler James Bulger last night branded the Government “a disgrace” and accused them of “hiding” details of the killer’s return to jail.

In an emotional interview, Ralph Bulger insisted he had a right to know why Jon Venables, now 27, had last week been recalled to jail.

Justice Secretary Jack Straw apologised for his silence after refusing to reveal why Venables had been taken back into custody for breaching conditions of his release on licence.

One national newspaper today claimed Venables was recalled after “violent bust-ups” and claimed he regularly took cocaine and Ecstasy, but the Ministry of Justice would not confirm those suggestions.

Prison Officers Association officials told the Daily Post the Government’s silence was causing a “potential risk”, and placing jail staff and other inmates at risk.

The questions the Ministry of Justice refused to answer included:

Is this the first time Venables has been recalled to prison?

Did Venables commit a new criminal offence, or was he detained for breaching conditions of his release?

As pressure for answers grew last night, Knowsley North and Sefton East MP George Howarth said: “In principle, I think the public does have a right to know and I would hope that happens as soon as possible.

“But there might be reasons to do with any parole board hearing and not wanting to prejudice that in any way so it makes letting the public know impossible.”

Peter Kilfoyle, in whose Walton constituency the murder happened, however said he supported the Government’s move to keep information of Venables' alleged breach of his terms of licence a secret.