Acid Attack

A Journalist's War With Organised Crime

Russell Findlay

• Publisher: Birlinn
• Year: 2018
• Topic: Social Sciences
• eBook ISBN:
  9780857909442
• Subtopic: Social Science Biographies
• Index: Social Sciences

"A good gritty read . . . expect your heart to race" from a journalist who took on Scotland's most dangerous mob bosses—and paid the price (Gina McKie, DJ and radio legend).

Two days before Christmas 2015, veteran crime journalist Russell Findlay was the target of a vicious attack on his own doorstep. An unknown assailant, disguised as a postman, hurled sulphuric acid in his face before attempting to stab him with a steak knife. Despite suffering horrific burns, Findlay managed to overcome his assailant before the police arrived.

In this book he unravels the identity of the man who ordered the hit and reflects on a two-decade career during which he has exposed some of Scotland's most violent and dangerous men. The result is an unflinchingly realistic portrait of the country's criminal underworld, involving not just organized crime's most notorious bosses but also murky behavior by lawyers, politicians, policemen and even fellow journalists which has enabled the criminals to flourish.

"Cast[s] light on the reality of Glasgow's vicious gang culture and the dangers for those brave enough to report on it." — The Guardian

"Puts his head where most reporters wouldn't put their feet." —Mark Daly, BBC Scotland investigations correspondent

"I've read it twice, it's an utterly fascinating book." —Tam Cowan, BBC Radio Scotland

"Real journalism is still practiced by brave individuals. I use that word deliberately, because it takes courage to expose the dangerous, violent and depraved. Russell Findlay displays that courage." —Joan McAlpine, MSP, Daily Record

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• 1 Special Delivery
• 2 #Fail
• 3 Basil Faulty
• 4 Get a Haircut
• 5 Lizard’s Tail
• 6 Frankie Donuts
• 7 Wee Barry
• 8 Last Orders
• 9 Domestic Omertà
• 10 Affair Price
• 11 Mañana, Mañana
• 12 Sleeping Policemen
• 13 Security Wars
• 14 Crime Inc
• 15 Pr Plod
• 16 The Filth
• 17 The Ferret
• 18 Dirty Briefs
• 19 The Untouchables
• 20 Danger: Old Firm
• 21 The Window Cleaner
• 22 ‘Unmasked’
• 23 Sunrise
• 24 Defiance and Betrayal
• 25 Sunset
• 26 Panto Season
• 27 Dirty Deal
• 28 Call Crimestoppers
• 29 The Lie Court
• 30 Dead Guilty
• 31 Numbers Game
• Author’s Note
• Plates