The Wicked Crimes of Mary Bell

During the 1960s Mary Bell's crimes shocked the world, not just because the victims were children, but because she was a child herself. Bell became one of the youngest people to be charged with murder in modern history. The details of her gruesome acts and the subsequent trial captivated global attention. Her case raised profound questions about juvenile criminal responsibility. Despite serving a prison sentence, she was released in 1980 and granted lifelong anonymity. The story of Mary Bell remains a chilling chapter in true crime, sparking ongoing debates on rehabilitation and the complexities surrounding childhood criminality.

[whowantswaffles]

This is what bugs me when people say "back in my day xyz didn't happen!" yes, yes it did. Kids were terribly abused. Awful murders happened. Babies were neglected. You just didn't know about it.

[grimm]

Scary for any parent TBH - you warn your bairns about the danger from strangers, but don't think about the serious harm that could come from other children. Thank you for another excellently researched documentary

[gennevievehuskshirley]

That last bit from the mother did me in. I found myself crying in the bathroom at 6 a.m. as I got ready to go to work. See, this is why I tend to prefer to listen to older stories, where everyone who was there is dead and gone. Modern stories hit me harder because I know there are people out there living with the pain.

[DeidreL]

Paul you put it so well when you said “someone as broken as Mary Bell”. I think that’s it in a nutshell. From the moment she was born she was ill cherished and treated terribly. I think something in Mary broke, whether this was a genetic condition or developed, something disconnected in her mind and became fixated on inflicting pain. Emotionlessly, by the sound of things. I can’t help wondering what would have happened had she been able to come to Australia to live. And Norma is a whole other tragedy. It’s all tragic and frightening. Thank you so much for such a clear, balanced account of this horrible time. Shades of the murderers of poor James Bolger.
I have to add, so much respect to you for ending with that poor mother’s words. Perhaps her face of grief is the thing we should always remember most in this case. It’s a life sentence of sorrow that this woman carries forever.

[Badficwriter]

Reminder that families with sexual abuse will often lie about it, even long after the fact. The fact her family didn't corroborate sexual abuse of Mary doesn't mean it didn't happen.

[Savvy]

Knowing child development and how a lack of care + affection and trauma impact that development plus everything about a person that comes with it, I’m sadly not surprised Mary was such a violent child. Infants need to be held and emotionally regulated, for their emotional and physical needs met for their brains to develop well. Brains are foundations up and those first months and years are critical. If her mother didn’t even want her at the birth and spent Mary’s childhood sending her away, hating her and even trying to kill her, that makes for a terrible brain soup for Mary. I’m mostly shocked she was able to grow up seemingly well, have a family, and become a member of society with no further behavioral concerns and who feels genuine remorse. I’m happy for her in that regard, that’s really promising for other kids with trauma backgrounds, while still devastated for the lives she took and families who lost the boys. This case is devastating on a lot of levels.

[elainefrawley]

I know it was a different time but 3 and 4 year olds out running around playing alone is hard to comprehend in this day and age

[acefrost]

The last part brought tears to my eyes, no parent deserves to burry their child, and no child deserves to die before they had a life, he could have been someone who saved lives, had a family but his future was stolen and it can't be given back.

[Verityization]

When I was a child growing up in the late 1960s Germany, we children used to recite a little poem about "Mary Bell, child of Hell." The story about her crimes must have been in the news at the time.

[rileykittendorf]

I’ve heard about Mary bell ages ago, but I’ve never heard this story told this well until now. You are amazing, sir! Also, can we have more blooper footage in the future too? You had me cracking up!

[cosgroveshepherd]

Mary Bell had a horrific life that no one should inflict on a child, and this spilled out in her dreadful violent acts. But what should be remembered is that, with the minimum of care, she changed and has led a quiet, ordinary life ever since. How we treat our children is literally the difference between life and death.

[AAMARTCLUB]

Thank you for including the comments of the little boy’s mum. I lost a toddler to cancer but this is so much worse: from my heart I wish her peace. Our babies are with their family in heaven, and we are still their mother, we shall meet in that glorious place where all our troubles are forgotten 🙏🏻

[kittensugars]

The first five years of life, makes the human being. It's SO important that infants are brought into a safe and peaceful home.

[annehaight]

Mary's mom gets angry because...Mary embarrassed the family? Yikes. Mom is clearly just as much a monster.

[Boadicea]

Thank you for telling such a horrific story so eloquently and gently.
The readings from the murdered little boys mum broke my heart💔

[megalopolis]

This is the most thorough and heartbreaking version of this case that I've heard. I'm praying that Mary made the most of her second chance, especially with her family, and that the families of the children brutally removed from the world will have supernatural peace and comfort in their Lives. Thank you for your thoughtful and compassionate care of this story.

[velvetharnish]

I wish they would have written about what happened to Norma Bell.
Thank you for the great narration. I love your voice! 🇨🇦👍

[WonderWhatHappened]

This is a tough one. If only the officers at the time took those little girls on the playground seriously, and the little boy that was pushed, there could be two lives saved.

[deniseleplatt]

Yay a new video from Paul. Thanks so much

[mookzmom]

I've read about this and seen several documentaries on this case, but you did the best I've heard. I've always been creeped out by her eerie beauty.