Shocking moment when mourners fight with machetes and axes in a cemetery between two family factions

This is the shocking moment when two family factions fought with machetes and axes in a graveyard in front of terrified mourners.

There were clashes in a graveyard after a high-speed chase that culminated in chaos at Morriston Cemetery, Swansea on August 5 last year.

Footage shows one of the men involved chasing someone in his van through rows of tombstones before jumping out and running after him, armed with a pickaxe.

He was accompanied by two other men who jumped out of the van with a hammer and a brick, while others can be seen in the background with machetes and wooden planks.

Dash cam footage from one of the vans involved shows it being driven past shocked citizens at high speed, narrowly missing someone who was being pushed into a wheelchair.

James Coffey, 45, has been sentenced to two years and three months in prison for his role in the violence

Now seven of the criminals involved in the violence have been jailed, and South Wales Police have labeled it a ‘appalling incident’.

Video for the violent scenes on August 5 last year was captured on the dash cam of James Coffey, 45, who has since served more than two years in prison for his role.

It begins by making him run to the driver’s door of a van, as a black Volkswagen Golf skids and collides with another vehicle in the background.

Another camera in the van shows two other people getting in, while Coffey speeds along the cemetery path in pursuit of another.

After getting out of the van, the two groups can be seen colliding with each other, before Coffey returns to the vehicle with blood pouring from his head.

Two people were seriously injured after the incident, including a teenager who was taken to hospital after being stabbed.

Armed police were called to the scene by shocked members of the public, while video footage from onlookers showed the chaos at the cemetery.

The incident took place at a funeral ceremony attended by both sides of the family, with violence erupting after a group of armed men arrived at the service. WalesOnline reports.

Swansea Crown Court heard it was the latest in a long-running feud between several members of the extended family, with Judge Paul Thomas KC saying many of those involved were ‘highly alert’ to violence at the funeral.

John Coffey (left) and Andrew John Thomas (right) were also jailed for their roles in the ongoing clashes

Jeffrey Tawse (left) and Patrick Joseph Murphy (right) were involved in the cemetery brawl

The footage showed James Coffey speeding through Morriston Cemetery in Swansea in his van

At one point, Coffey was seen driving his van at high speed near someone in a wheelchair

He added that it was “beyond the reach of chance” that those who attended the service all had weapons, including machetes, hammers, shovels and other implements that were “readily available for use” once things turned violent.

James Coffey, 45, of Rumney, was sentenced to two years and three months in prison for violent disorder, possession of assault weapons and dangerous driving.

Jeffrey Tawse, 24, of Rumney, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for violent disorder and possession of assault weapons.

John Coffey, 24, from Rumney, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for violent disorder and possession of assault weapons.

Patrick Joseph Murphy, 40, of Llanelli, was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison for violent disorder and possession of assault weapons.

Andrew John Thomas, 40, from Llanelli, was sentenced to three years in prison for violent disorder and dangerous driving.

John Joe O’Brien, 53, of Llanelli, was jailed for 16 months for violent disorder and possession of assault weapons.

Martin John O’Brien, 58, of Llanelli, was jailed for 16 months for violent disorder and possession of assault weapons.

Paddy Murphy, 19, and John Murphy, 18, the teenage sons of Patrick Murphy, were given suspended prison sentences and made to do unpaid work.

Detective Chief Inspector Mike Owens said: ‘This was an absolutely horrific incident that would have terrified those peacefully visiting the cemetery in the middle of the day.

The group, who all know each other, committed violent crimes and were seen using weapons against each other.

“I hope today’s verdicts reassure the community that this type of criminal behavior will not be tolerated and that anyone who commits these acts will bear the consequences of their actions.

“The investigative team was firm in their commitment to fully investigate the disorder at the cemetery, working with other police forces to detain and investigate those involved.”