A FINAL word on the award-winning picture of the Glasgow thug attacking a detective with an open razor (A nation through its people's eyes, The Herald, September 26).

The picture was taken by Scottish Daily Express (SDE) photographer Ernie McLintock, who was working a casual shift for the Sunday Express on that Saturday. The paper could not use the photograph because the law would not permit this until the accused had been sentenced.

So when Brian Stewart received his eight-year sentence some time later, it was, in fact, the SDE that published the picture. The officer being attacked was the late Detective Inspector George Johnston of the Special Branch. He died many years ago on Arran.

I write with some authority. At the time I was a senior news reporter with the Express and we all toasted Ernie regally that Saturday night, having seen the picture after it was printed and before it was locked away until the court case.

Stuart McCartney, 23 Dalkeith Avenue, Bishopbriggs.

With reference to the letter (September 27) concerning the police officer in the infamous "slasher" picture, it is actually George Johnston.

George and his wife, Netta, had a holiday home on Arran and retired there when he left the force. He often told the story of that day and displayed the scar on his left arm. He said he was following the thug in question who, realising what was going on, turned, drew his weapon and attacked.

At the same time, George put his right hand inside his coat - as can be plainly seen - to draw his baton, and put his left arm up in an attempt to fend off the razor. Funnily enough, my son called him Zorro because of his resemblance to the fictitious bladesman, which delighted him so much that he took to signing birthday and other cards with a large "Z". George died on Arran some years ago, where he is still remembered.

Robert Henderson, 7 Craigarbel Crescent, Inverbervie, Montrose.

The officer concerned in the picture was Detective Inspector George Johnston and not Elphinstone Dalglish, who may have been or was about to become assistant and later deputy chief constable. The demonstration did not involve the Orange Order as such but was of a political nature. Jilly Moir was correct in her observation that it was the City of Glasgow police. I know because I was there on duty on that day.

Robert Patterson, 29 Campbell Street, Renfrew.

The detective in the picture is George Johnston, whose job at that time was observing the activities of Orange and Republican factions in Scotland. George was a frequent customer at my caravan dealership in Giffnock. Elphinstone Dalglish was an assistant chief constable around the time of that incident, and was a distant cousin of my mother.

George M McLean, 117 Western Avenue, Ellon.

I can inform Jilly Moir, with some degree of authority, that the detective shown in the photograph is most certainly not my late father, Elphinstone Dalglish. Having been follically-challenged for some years, he would have been proud to possess such a fine head of hair.

Graham Dalglish, 49 Partickhill Road, Glasgow.