Shocking video shows mourners fight with machetes & axes after high-speed van chase in massive funeral brawl at cemetery
EXTRAORDINARY footage shows the moment a machete brawl explodes in a GRAVEYARD during a funeral.
Seven of the thugs were jailed after a row between two family factions boiled over at Morriston Crematorium in Swansea, Wales.
Horrified mourners from two other funerals watched axe-wielding louts churn up plots and smash headstones as they set about each other.
Chilling dashcam video shows James Coffey, 45 – jailed for two years and three months for the brawl – hurl himself into a van armed with a pickaxe handle.
Just seconds later a black car drifts sideways and ploughs into another vehicle at speed.
Glass shatters over Coffey as a thug sees to his windscreen before a vehicle chase tears off through the cemetery with family onboard.
Two vans hurtle down footpaths at high speed before one narrowly misses a wheelchair and a carer.
Grabbing anything from foot-long machetes to axes, hammers, bricks, shovels and even a broom – the feuding mourners burst out their vehicles and charge.
A violent brawl sees the bloodied thugs – wearing vests and hoodies for the solemn occasion – slash and batter each other next to headstones and floral tributes.
Amid the chaos Coffey retreats to his van where he wipes away blood gushing from his head after being slashed.
The violence also spilled into the remembrance room at the venue where water from a flower vase was spat on the floor.
Following the horror, police checked hospitals around the south-west of Wales knowing people caught up had been seriously hurt.
They later caught several suspects on camera trying to dispose of weapons by throwing them into a stream near a farm.
Swansea Crown Court heard the fight was sparked by an ongoing feud between two sides of a family – the O’Brian and Coffey faction, and the Murphy and Thomas faction.
Seven men were jailed for between 16 months and three years after admitting violent disorder for brawl last August 5.
They were Patrick Murphy, 40, Andrew Thomas, 40, Martin O’Brian, 58, and John O’Brian, 53, all of Llanelli, and Jeffrey Tawse, 23, John Coffey Jr, 24, and James Coffey, 45, all from Cardiff.
Murphy’s sons Paddy, 19, and John, 18, of Llanelli, got suspended jail terms.
Judge Paul Thomas KC said: “It was beyond the realms of coincidence that between the two sides of the conflict at least one machete, lump hammer, baseball bat, pickaxe handle, shovel, and probably golf clubs were available for use.
“From the available footage some of those present for the blessing were dressed as one would expect for a solemn occasion.
“Many others were in vests with weaponry readily to hand in their vehicles or on their person.”
Detective inspector Carl Price, who was in charge of the investigation, told Wales Online: “With the kinds of weapons that were used and way vehicles were driven around the cemetery it is lucky nobody was killed.”
Detective Chief Inspector Mike Owens added: “This was an absolutely appalling incident that would have terrified those peacefully attending the cemetery in the middle of the day.
“The group, who are all known to each other, committed violent offences and were seen using weapons against each other.”