Its a bit worrying Fred that you think its all kind of 'ok' has this story and the news brought things to mind that maybe you would rather forget? I really dont mean that in a nasty or offensive way so please dont take it like that but sometimes a nerve is sensed to have been twanged. Permanent emotional damage as you put it, is often not obvious even to the person damaged. It can be outbursts of anger, or subconsciously there but the mind just wont access the reason for self preservation reasons. Oftentimes people have a habit whether drink or drugs that is the only outward vent for an inner turmoil that they only realise they have during counselling or suchlike.  Just because outwardly you dont have experience of anyone being emotionally damaged doesnt mean that they were not.  Hope you get what Im saying, Im not having a go Im just saying your take on it is somewhat puzzling. 

Not even a close friend of relative has come out saying that all this abuse was 'ok'