By Gordon Berry

A well-known figure in Scottish legal circles has revealed he feels “lucky to be alive” following a terrifying gunpoint ordeal in the Caribbean.

Cupar solicitor Richard McFarlane, who also works all over the country as a part-time sheriff, felt the cold end of a gun barrel pressed against his head while only a few days into a holiday on the tiny island of St Maarten with his wife Anne.

Back in his office at Rollo Davidson McFarlane yesterday, Mr McFarlane (58) relived an experience which has left the couple deeply shocked, but in no way daunted by the thought of returning to the “fantastic” island.

Mr McFarlane said they had been walking just outside their village resort on what is the smallest island in the world to be shared by two sovereign governments—namely the Dutch and French.

He said that as they walked out to see the remains of a hotel devastated by a hurricane a few years ago, “I was aware of a man walking towards us and, as he went past, I wished him a good morning.

“Suddenly I felt my backpack grabbed from behind and he started demanding I give it to him.

“Not really knowing what was happening I started struggling. Then he pulled out a big silver pistol and put it to my head.

“At one point I could just see his eyes and the hole at the end of the barrel.

“The pack was wrenched from my back and he ran off down the road.

“Anne, who was totally enraged over what happened, was right behind him. She managed to take hold of him but he got into a waiting 4x4 vehicle which then took off at speed.”

Mr McFarlane said he and his wife were left in a state of “sheer disbelief and shock” but people had come to their assistance when they saw their distress.

They were taken to a restaurant and police—part of the Dutch force on the island—were contacted.

“They came along and took statements and said that detectives would be coming along, but eventually we gave up waiting and went back to the resort,” said Mr McFarlane.

“Two days later we were taken to the station to give statements. We were told the robbers would discard anything they didn’t want and, sure enough, some of our belongings were handed in to the resort.

“Everyone we spoke to was incredibly helpful and really appalled by what had happened, especially as there is such reliance on tourists. We had a few hundred dollars in the pack but the biggest problems were caused by the loss of one of our credit cards.

“Luckily this sort of thing appears to be very rare on the island and we wouldn’t hesitate to go back for another holiday. People we spoke to expect the thieves to be caught, but we haven’t heard any more news,” said Mr McFarlane.

He added that the whole experience had made him very aware of how lives can be changed in an instant.