Richard McCann's mother was murdered by the Yorkshire Ripper. Details of her gruesome death appeared in newspapers for thirty years; yet he and his sisters were abandoned, their loss never spoken of. Raised in a violent household, he was driven to crime and drink. A life-changing decision prompted him to write his best-selling book Just A Boy; and his return to education enabled him to help others who had suffered as he had. Invited to speak on behalf of abused children and to meet other survivors of violent pasts, he has heard stories of forgotten children and broken families, and come to understand the essential elements of recovery and happiness.