Galway man has throat slit by father-in-law

A Galway man has acknowledged that he is ‘lucky to be alive’ after his father-in-law slit his throat in a horror attack.

Property developer Declan Campbell – originally from Galway city but now based in London – was left with a ten centimetre gash to his neck after his wife’s father, New Zealand pensioner Rodney Cohen, only narrowly missed his jugular vein.

A court in England heard how Cohen approached the 41-year-old Irish emigrant from behind, pulled his head back and slit his throat with a steak knife.

As Mr Campbell fled his apartment screaming for help, Cohen shouted “die you bastard” at him from a balcony. He was jailed for six years for the attack.

Speaking to the Connacht Tribune this week, Mr Campbell says he was “terrified I was going to die”, after two neck veins were slashed by the blade.

The court heard how Cohen had flown to England in July this year to stay with Mr Campbell and his wife, Jane, who married two years ago.

“I thought he was going into the kitchen to do the washing-up after the dinner. I turned to the telly. Next thing is he grabbed me from behind – I thought he was messing. Then I saw the blood. He slit my throat. It was like something from a horror movie. It was just a moment of madness from him,” said Mr Campbell.

The Galway native, who says he still owns a home in Loughrea with his estranged wife Jane, was rushed to hospital and was unconscious for 24 hours.

Mr Campbell, who will be in Galway this week to visit his parents who live in Craughwell, says he still suffers nightmares since the attack.

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.