Someone to Love Us: The shocking true story of two brothers fostered into brutality and neglect

by Terence O’Neill

The shocking true story of terrible abuse and the remarkable boy who captured the heart of the nation when he testified in court to find justice for his brother’s horrific death.


Terry O’Neill was just ten years old when he stood up in court to testify against his brutal foster parents, accused of the manslaughter of his twelve-year-old brother, Dennis.


Terry and his brother had been taken into care and moved through many foster homes until they came to live on the Shropshire farm owned by Reginald and Esther Gough in 1945. There they were to suffer brutal beatings and little care or love – they survived as best they could, looking out for each other, until the terrible morning when Terry couldn’t wake Dennis.


In a time when the country was united by war and struggle, this landmark case shocked the nation and made headlines around the world. Terry, a small figure in the courtroom, captured the hearts of mothers and families everywhere, and the public outcry against the foster services led to the instigation of the first provisions to protect other vulnerable children from neglect and cruelty.


This is the remarkable true story of a boy who couldn’t save his brother, but whose actions have gone to save many other children from the same fate.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography

320 pages, Paperback

Published June 30, 2020

Reviews

[Sharon Orlopp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Packs a powerful punch. True story based in England in 1945 about brothers placed into foster care. Terry ends up in nine different homes over a nine year period.

The horrific treatment that Terry and his brother, Dennis, endured resulted in parliamentary legislation to better protect children in foster care.

This memoir is not for the faint of heart.

[Holly D · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t put this book down. I love true stories but this one was hard to take. Can’t read well through tears. I feel so drained after finishing this book.

[Dawn Rumsby-Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

How sad that it took such evil deeds to highlight the plight of foster children during the war! This was a difficult read in parts, yet the story had to be told! Sadly, things like this still happen today!
I’m so glad Terry was able to write his story - hopefully it was some kind of therapy for him whilst highlighting such disgraceful acts and abuse against children, some of whom didn’t and don’t have a voice!

[Pat Vermette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most definitely a powerful story. The author, Terence O’Neill, tells his story of survival from a childhood of neglect and abuse while in foster homes and how his story became public and instrumental in changing the foster care system laws and regulations in England. A ten year old little boy testifies in court and opens up investigations within this system ultimately saving future children from the horrors he and his brother endured for years. He not not only shares his story with the reader but bares his soul in doing so.

[Megan]

One of those books I wish was fiction. Heartbreaking. Sad that these events had to take place for laws to be made. Terence did a fabulous job telling his AND Dennis' story which could not have been easy. I poured through this one in a few days because I had to know how Terry made out in the end. Glad he had Pat and his children to keep him going. Went to Facebook immediately after to see updates on the family only to hear of Terry's passing. I hope your resting easy and got to catch up with Denny.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5)

This was a tough-to-read, yet powerful story.

Two young brothers taken from their unhealthy home and then into foster care. Resilent, they have a couple of good fosters until they meet their nightmare situation.

This is a true story that happened in 1945 in England ad inspired Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I couldn't put it down. It's so sad to read but, it was what happened. It's about what a child's life was like in the foster care system in England. It's amazing that Terence lived to tell his real life story & how that made changes to child care.

[Naomi Rushe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Initially I was not interested in this book nor did I like the writing style. But it was turned out to be a heartbreaking/eye opening story about the strength of a 9 year old boy. Extremely sad and difficult to read.

[Julie Edmundson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book definitely had me in tears and I don’t think I’ve ever cried as much to a book before. It not only gives you the story of what happened to this little boy, but shows what happens sometimes before someone actually tries to fix the system. It’s so sad. A good read!

[Safiye Arli · Rating 5 out of 5]

“This is the heart-breaking memoir of a boy who couldn’t save his brother, but whose actions have saved many other children from the same fate”

[Dorothy Roy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, wow , wow, so touching and sad at the same time, that some children have to live through that . Loved the book

[Janita · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heart-breaking story of a boy in the foster system who fell through the cracks. This clearly highlights the dangers of the family and social services system, although it does provide glimmers of hope. A difficult read in its emotional depth but very well-told.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the authors honesty about how this affected him and how as a child he really did not know what was happening. I felt so badly for him and was glad that he found peace.

[Amanda Huber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read... tragic and many tears where shed

[Kim Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very sad 😢 couldn’t put this book 📕 down I was screaming 😱 inside hep those kids

[Karl Spital · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an unbelievably sad story to read, but I could not put the book down.

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was truly heartbreaking and hit hard in so many ways, this is one of the books that i wish wasnt a true story and i have never cried so much reading one. This book was amazing.

[Cody Sasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

extremely sad.

[Diane Jarrett-Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could not put this down. Finished in one sitting. Have to say I cried a lot.

[Maddison Wessel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very powerful and terribly sad story. Amazing how resilient people can be and what kids can survive! Agatha Christie wrote her play the Mousetrap based on this true story!