Video shows men with axes and knives fighting in Swansea Cemetery

Stunning new dashcam footage shows a massive machete, ax and hammer battle that disrupted mourners in a Welsh cemetery.

Nine funeral-goers were jailed last month, six months after a feud between two family factions at Swansea’s Morriston Crematorium sparked extreme violence.

Earlier clips of the incident showed large vans and white cars being driven across the grass in the cemetery.

But new video, released by South Wales Police, goes inside the vehicles to show participants in the fight wielding weapons including baseball bats and bricks.

In one segment, James Coffey – who was jailed for two years and three months for the brawl – wipes his head to check for a wound while blood flows down his neck.

In another instance, a vehicle traveling at nearly 20 mph narrowly missed someone in a wheelchair and the person pushing them as they walked along the rows of graves.

Detective Inspector Carl Price, who was in charge of the investigation, told Wales Online: “I think people were shocked by this incident – the scale, the level of violence, the location and the disrespect he showed towards others.

“With the type of weapons used and the way vehicles drove around the cemetery, it’s fortunate that no one was killed.”

Police checked hospitals in south-west Wales after the clash, knowing those involved had been seriously injured.

During their investigations, they also caught several suspects on camera attempting to dispose of guns by throwing them into a stream near a farm.

Swansea Crown Court later heard the fight was sparked by an ongoing feud between two sides of the family factions – dubbed the O’Brian and Coffey faction and the Murphy and Thomas faction.

Two other funerals were held at the time – and grieving families were gripped by the violence.

Men armed with baseball bats spat some drinking water out of flower vases onto the floor of the Krem’s memorial room.

Judge Paul Thomas KC said: “It was beyond chance that at least one machete, hammer, baseball bat, pickaxe handle, shovel and probably golf clubs were available between the two parties to the conflict.

“The footage available indicates that some of those present at the blessing were dressed as one would expect for a solemn occasion.

“Many others wore vests with weapons to carry in their vehicles or carry with them.”

He added: “The death of a family member is one of the most traumatic events in a person’s life. And the funeral of someone so loved is a sacred time – a time of great solemnity, dignity and great mourning.”

“This tragic family celebration has been desecrated by your two warring factions.”

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