Two men were arrested following a gun and knife attack on guests attending a double wedding involving members of the Travelling community in Strabane, Co Tyrone, yesterday.
One man was shot and critically injured in the chest and another sustained multiple stab wounds to the abdomen, some caused by a spade, in the attacks, which occurred inside the grounds of St Mary's Church, Melmount, just before noon.
"It was terrifying, there was pandemonium and panic among the guests, especially the children," said Father Michael Doherty, PP, who officiated at the double wedding ceremony.
The police also recovered a large quantity of knives and machetes and two cars. An RUC detective investigating the incident said it was obviously pre-planned.
"Guns, machetes and knives are normally not associated with weddings," he said. "Although we believe members of the Travelling community were involved either directly or indirectly in the disturbances, so too were other people who are not members of the Travelling community."
The disturbances broke out just minutes before the weddings of brothers Martin and John Stokes to sisters Margaret and Kate Stokes.
"I was in the sacristy talking to the grooms' parents when suddenly we heard screaming and yelling coming from inside the church," Father Doherty said.
"There were about 80 people inside the church and they all rushed into the sacristy in a very frightened state. The children were hysterical. I went into the church and people were screaming in fear. Then I heard a number of shots being fired from the side of the church outside.
"They sparked off more panic and it took several minutes for things to settle down. The police were called and they arrived within a few minutes and restored calm.
"At this stage the two brides still had not arrived for their weddings. When they did they were told what had happened and everyone agreed that the weddings should go ahead, which they did.
"What should have been a happy double wedding day for all the families and guests was somewhat low-key after what happened. It was bad, but it could have been so much worse," said Father Doherty.
Yesterday's violence has been linked to an inter-family feud. Last year, shots were fired at mourners attending a funeral in Derry which was also connected to the dispute between the two families.
The area around St Mary's Church was sealed off for several hours after the attack. RUC forensic science officers and police using sniffer dogs carried out an inch-by-inch search of the church grounds and car park.