Family life helped SuBo beat the cruelty

THE taunts that Susan Boyle has suffered since she stepped into the global limelight echo similar torments from childhood, according to her brother Gerry.

But, back then, she could fly into the arms of her mum.

Susan was mercilessly bullied at school over her learning difficulties which were caused by being starved of oxygen at birth.

She has said: "I told teachers but, because it was more verbal than physical, I could never prove anything.

"But words often hurt more than cuts and bruises and the scars are all still there."

So perhaps it's no wonder that the pressure of all the attention after her audition on BGT was hard to bear.

While the cheers and support would have boosted her belief in her talent enough to make her determined to carry on, the jibes would have painfully grated on taut nerves that may always feel raw.

Gerry thinks effects of the bullying are as much a reason for Susan not working as the learning difficulties themselves.

He says: "After she left school she wanted to work and had a job in a travel agency. But she doesn't really mix that well with people and didn't make friends easily because she is so shy, so she stopped."

Vulnerable Susan may have been unable to cope with work, but the kind soul still made herself useful, showering others with the love and care that she had enjoyed from her family.

Gerry, who now lives in Musselburgh, East Lothian, says: "She went on benefits and did voluntary work for the church, visiting people and doing jobs for them.

"Susan led a very quiet life, in all honesty. When she wasn't doing doing voluntary work, she would visit relatives with Mum, go out to the shops with her or just sit at home with her.

"She'd spend what little money she had on records by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Elaine Page and would come home from the shops and listen to them all day.

"Financially, she would be looked after by our mother, who was very supportive. Goodness knows how but she would save and accumulate it even though she never had much.

"She was a wonderful woman who could make a pound go 40 miles. She held the family together.

"Then when she got older there was no need for her to go into a home as Susan was there to care for her.

"The rest of the family would pop by to see them both almost every day.

"Our mother was very close to Susan, what with her being the youngest, and would wrap her in cotton- wool a bit. That's probably a major reason why she's so shy now."

After being bullied at school, Susan also suffered cruel taunts from local yobs at her home in Blackburn.

Callous thugs targeted the spinster whenever she left the safety of her semi-detached house.

Close friend Alison Kerr told the News of the World: "She has not had an easy life. She has been a target for a lot in her life, particularly cruel taunting from the younger generation.

"But she is a fighter and always managed to find her way through the difficult times."

Susan was devastated when sister Katheen, 53, died of an asthma attack in 2000 - followed a year later by dad Patrick, 83, dying of cancer.

Brother Gerry said: "Kathleen's death hit Susan very hard, they were close. Obviously losing Dad was hard, but at least he'd lived his life."

Hardest of all was when their mum Bridget died in 2007.

Gerry says: "When she passed away aged 92, Susan was grief-stricken.

"It was easier for the rest of us because we had husbands, wives and partners but Susan was on her own.

"It was just her left in the home which had gone from a hive of activity over the years down to just her.

"But as time has gone on, Susan has got stronger. She's come to terms with it and in many ways it gave her time to focus on the singing.

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"We're proud of Susan and our Mum would be so proud and thrilled to see her success." Even the teenagers who spat insults at her are fans, begging for autographs.

Susan has said with her trademark smile: "I think I've won them over."

And now, she is ready to end 27 years on benefits and take a job that will allow her to provide for the family who always looked after her.

Susan asked Gerry for advice because she was afraid of breaking strict benefits rules.

He says: "I told her to keep the benefits people up to date. She knew she'd have to stop taking benefits.

"I think she'll be okay from here on in, though."

And Gerry reveals that it will allow her plenty of cash to splash on a surprise secret passion - FASHION!

Her first two dresses for BGT were also reminiscent of the Von Trapp singers - made out of curtains! Gerry grins: "Any spare cash was spent on music and clothes. Her taste is rather, how shall we put it? Interesting - she'll kill me for saying it.

"People say Britain's Got Talent gave her a make-over but that's not true. She went out with one of my nieces and spruced up her look."

He insists Susan has "no interest" in the £8million she'll earn from the deal with Simon Cowell that'll replace her £129.64 weekly benefits cheque.

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He says she only wants to buy the modest home that means so much to her - and make comfortable the lives of siblings Mary, 75, Bridie, 72, Joe, 62, John, 59, James, 58, and Gerry.

In the Right-to-Buy scheme she will get a £15,000 discount, meaning she will snap it up for just £65,000.

Gerry says: "It's been in the family since 1960 and she says she'll definitely buy it, it's the key for her. She thinks she'll live there, but I don't think that'll be possible after how famous she's become.

"Maybe she'll keep it as part of the family and if she can afford a bigger house she'll buy it too. There's a nice place nearby called Rattray Gardens where places go for about £400,000.

"She's making noises that that she will give all the money to her family.

"I don't know about that happening, but that's her all over - she's so generous and family-orientated.

"She'd give away every penny out of her purse - she'd say, 'You have it, I'll make do'.

"To be honest, money is not important to Susan. She's not flash, as you could see from her first appearance.

"Yes, it will be nice for her to not have money worries but she told me, 'I wanted to go beyond Britain's Got Talent to have a successful career and be respected'. She wants longevity.

"She wants to get to where Elaine Page is.

"She doesn't want to be a pop star like Kylie but sees herself as a known name in the field - performing in the West End and releasing regular CDs that lots of people buy.

"When the alarm clock goes off she wants to get up and think, 'I'm involved in the music industry'.

"And I think she's got a great chance of that happening. So does Simon Cowell.

"The money would just be a pleasant by-product of that - and I can't think of anyone more deserving to have it."

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