No More Silence by David Whelan with Marion Scott and Jim McBeth is available from amazon.com
David Whelan was a successful businessman living a millionaire lifestyle when his world came crashing down.
Nobody knew, not Princess Diana, not the Queen, nor the hundreds of celebrities he rubbed shoulders with, that David was hiding a dark secret.
Born into a world beyond poverty, David was the youngest of five children, abandoned in a Scottish slum by his unhinged mother and brute of a father, he was seven before he learned he wasn't an orphan.
Reunited briefly with his brothers and sisters on a croft in North Uist in the Hebrides, David and his siblings were plucked from the only happy home they had known and given back to an unfit mother, with disastrous results.
Soon tiring of her unruly brood, David's mother took off, unwittingly setting in train a series of events which would place him in the hands of a sexual predator at the world famous Quarrier's Children's Village in Bridge of Weir, Renfrewshire.
The bell tower of the Children's Cathedral was where David's tormentor John Porteous, 77, took him to abuse him - before the 'Beast' joined the rest of the congregation in prayer.
For 30 years, David never told, until his abuser's wife called, asking him to be a character witness for her husband, the monster who had stolen his childhood.
Catapulted into the biggest ever UK investigation into child abuse at a children's home, David found himself at the centre of Operation Orbona. Eight abusers were convicted.
Now, as he campaigns for historic abuse victims across the world, David has seen justice at last with the publication of his life story - No More Silence.
He said: "Telling my story has at long last been a huge release, and I pray it brings hope to the thousands of survivors who, like me, always thought they were alone.
"My abuser was originally jailed for eight years for destroying my life and abusing another boy.
"My story is my justice."
David's story will resonate with victims of abuse around the world, and many Migrant Children in the US, Canada and Australia will have links with Quarriers.
The charity was one of several which sent migrant children away from their families, with many ending up working in factories and farms across North America and Australia.
Here, in searing extracts from his harrowing but uplifting memoirs, written with Marion Scott and Jim McBeth, David tells his story.
'I had fallen asleep on the journey to a new life that promised peace, security and safety. I awoke with a start, in time to see the words spelled out in flowers: Suffer the little children.
My first sight of, and welcome to, Quarriers Children's Village.
Nestling in the Renfrewshire countryside, this place was far from the grime and unpredictability of life in an inner-city slum.
My older sister Irene sat next to me in the back of the social worker's car, her eyes luminous with uncertainty. We had arrived.
I shrugged off sleep and wiped moisture from the car window.
The first structure I saw was the bell tower of what I would learn later was called the Children's Cathedral.
I had never seen anything so breathtaking. The soaring steeple seemed to point to heaven. I would find soon it was pointing the way to hell.
He would see to that. His name was John Porteous. He is at the heart of this story but there will be few mentions of his given name. I once called him Uncle John but I was a child then and trusting.
I had yet to be betrayed by the man whose duty it was to protect me, to keep me safe.
Therefore, he is forever The Beast - it is how I have referred to him in my mind for three decades.
It had taken all of my strength to banish the unspeakable things he did to me during my time at Quarriers.
A phone call out of the blue would reveal that my entire existence was an edifice built on sand.
In the matter of a few seconds, the façade I had built from repression and misguided shame was torn away.
But the call would persuade me to stop running from the past, a race I could no longer win. This time, this time, this time, justice had to prevail and I had to play my part.
I would soon be at the centre of Operation Orbona, the biggest police investigation into systematic physical and sexual abuse of children in a care home.
Eight of the abusers would be convicted. The Beast and his cohorts went to jail.
I thought then it would be over. I believed there would be closure but I was wrong - it was just the beginning.
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Quarriers village scotland Pt 1by gort1958702 views
kjv0; Do you not believe children are abused? I was sexually and emotionally abused from age 2 to 14. At 14, I finally said enough. You say David will burn in hell? Those who judge are the ones that should be repenting. My abuse stopped almost 28 years ago. To this day I feel my life is ruined! I am so glad David found the strength to speak out! It needs to be done more. Kids are suffering and it's not their fault, yet you blame him? I have PTSD and deal with it DAILY! GET EDUCATED!!!!!!!!
liltink869 2 months ago
@Quarriers1
I'm just about to terminated your book, I'm at the Padonra's box chapter, just that I couldn't go on reading today because of too many tears in my eyes... I will take back the book this evening...I'm so happy to have found your video because now when I think of you and your story I've got a face in my mind... I will congratulate with you soon after the end of the book.. ;-) francesca from italy
altrabianca 5 months ago
No More Silence is a remarkable and profound story of a man who fought through hell & back. It was very moving and courageous. I highly recommend people read this book to encourage survivors and those that need help to seek it. To kjv0 &others who are in denial, your blasphemous and out right outrageous comments have no value . Perhaps you should follow your own advice and seek your god for assistance in judging others or in the accusations you put forth. Read the book or educate yourself better
rocaga100 10 months ago
You speak from no knowledge of all the fact and evidence which was available and put before an independent jury in a closed Court for them to make there decision. If Porteous was so innocent why has he not Appealed his conviction! You make false claims of individuals coming together to say the same untruths. What is the basis of your claims in law and fact & evidence? Put them before the Police and a Court. Intimidation of witnesses in this case is unacceptable yet you fail to mention that.
Quarriers1 10 months ago
How can you put ‘fact and evidence’ before a jury of something that was said to have happened over 30 years previously? The only way to convince a jury in those circumstances, would be to secretly get a small number together who would plan out the same lying untruths to tell. How could any innocent person get factual evidence for an appeal from so many years previous?
The fact that your claim for compensation against the charity of Quarriers was thrown out of court speaks for itself!
kjv0 10 months ago
You refering to God and the Bible. God works in mysterious way and brought The Beast, Porteous finally to Justice. As to money being a factor no amount of money will repair the enormous damage that The Beast and the other Quarriers ex-employees convicted, inflicted on defenceless children. Many evil and vile Acts were carried out in the name of God and Religion in Quarriers Homes. I have no need to be repentant or guilty for exposing the TRUTH! Victims will excersice fully their Rights
David
Quarriers1 11 months ago
All the fact and evidence was put before a Jury. Who found Porteous guilty! Not revealing your true self, you post comments not knowing my personal circumstances and make false assertions. Porteous had every opportunity to Appeal his conviction and choose not to do so. Including access to the BBC to highlight his case. The BBC Trust apologised to me after I exposed the lies & deceit. Porteous is a devious paedophile. Porteous supporters & family are in denial and hide behind religion.
David
Quarriers1 11 months ago
David, you are the epitome of the teaching of the Bible when it says, “The love of money is the root of all evil.” Those who know the real truth are aware of your pathetic fabrication, which has destroyed the lives of the loving people who did their very best for you as a child. If there is no repentance and confession of guilt on your part, the judgement of God will have you burn in the fires of hell for all of eternity! No size of bank account is worth that!
kjv0 11 months ago
This is one of the most inspiring stories I've ever heard. A real testament to the human spirit. Little David was born into incredible poverty, and then led into world of an evil and devious paedophile. He determined not to let the monster destroy his life, but 30 years later, David got a phone call from his abusers wife asking him to be a character witness for the man who stole his childhood. Silence was no longer an option. A must read. Uplifting and reaffirming.
58fvks 1 year ago
I have bought the book and read this heart rending story. It is a must for all who want to protect children.
Scotkaz 1 year ago