Russell Findlay reflects on the 'absolute horror' of acid attack
The Scottish Conservative leader was attacked with acid on his doorstep, and said he ‘could’ve been capable of killing’ his attacker.
Russell Findlay has described the "absolute horror" of being attack by acid on his doorstep while working as an investigative journalist.
He also reflected on comments he made that he "could've been capable of killing him", saying the "red mist came down" after spotting that the man had a knife.
The Scottish Conservative leader was detailing his harrowing experience ahead of the Holyrood election campaign, which officially begins today.
Speaking to BBC Scotcast, Mr Findlay said: "Two days before Christmas I was home alone with my 10-year-old daughter and I saw a red shape, so I tentatively opened the door.
"I was very cautious but he said he was a postman and passed through a Royal Mail delivery card, and then I felt a splash on the right side of my face and the individual came through the door.
"It was blind panic, every part of you says it's very serious because he was coming in the door.
"We tripped, fell out and rolled about on the driveway. I managed to restrain him when my daughter came down the stairs to see absolute horror."
His daughter was able to escape the house and run to a neighbour's, who called the police. It was not until after this that Mr Findlay spotted the serrated knife on the threshold of his front door.
Mr Findlay said: "The presumption being he would have thrown sulphuric acid in my face and then stabbed me, and then my daughter would have come down to see me dead or dying.
"So every single moment it could've gone right, it did - I had a guardian angel looking on me."
During his interview, a passage from his book where he reflected on the attack was read out. It said Mr Findlay "hammered my fists so hard into his face" that the attacker's dentures broke in half, saying the punches felt "joyful and satisfactory".
In the passage he said he "later regretted showing too much more restraint" and it would have been more appropriate to "take his sight as he planned to take mine, an eye for an eye."
It said: "The sight and the significance of the knife caused me to flip.
"I've never felt such anger as I did in that moment and I could've been capable of killing him which made me appreciate how good people end up in prison.
"Had I seen the knife sooner, would it have ended up inside him? It is possible.
"I turned back to the police van determined to drag him out by his head and rip him to pieces."
When asked about this passage in his book, Mr Findlay said: "To be fair, he started it."
He added: "It's completely accurate, the fury that someone would turn up at your family home and conduct an attack that could've been life-changing, life-ending.
"That's what I felt when I saw the knife, the red mist came down and it was becoming apparent that my young daughter would have to witness something horrific."
However he denied he was a "scrapper", but said he has a punchbag in his garage.
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