DETECTIVES from the PSNI’s Major Investigation Team have started a murder inquiry after a man in his 60s was shot dead outside a Catholic church where a traveller’s wedding was taking place.

The alarm was raised just after 1 pm in Newtownbutler, Co Fermanagh following a number of 999 calls.

The man was flown to hospital in Enniskillen in a police helicopter but died from his injuries.

Another man, who is in his 30s, was also shot but his injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

The two men who were injured were brought in a white van to Lisnaskea police station about five miles away.

Ambulances were called and the police helicopter landed at a nearby school to take one of the injured men to hospital.

The van was left parked at the entrance to the police station and the area has also been cordoned off with police tape.

Bandages and dressings were found lying in the road at the back of the van.

Part of Bridge Street in the village remains closed while police and forensic experts carried out an examination of the chapel grounds.

The officiating priest, Fr Michael King said he was conducting wedding involving two families from the travelling community.

He said the shooting erupted as the bride was about to walk up the aisle.

“The next thing I heard was (people shouting), ‘there’s shots, there’s shots’.

“I thought ‘God what’s going on here’ so I went out and there was a fella lying on the road and around six fellas around him.

“I was going to go down to him, but then he was back up on his feet so I went back in to get ready for the wedding.

“Two men were shot – one was shot in the chest and the other in the leg. Another was injured with an uncouth sort of knife, in the back of the hand.

“I wasn’t anywhere near to give them help – their own clan surrounded the people who were shot.

“We got the ambulance and the police, and they took it from there.

“I went on ahead with the wedding – I could do nothing else, because they were anxious to get this girl married.

“It was very small, there were only a few people there.

“The bride was a bit traumatised alright, so I just spoke to her and told her to take a few deep breaths to relax, and that she was safe here.

“There’s a school nearby but they wouldn’t have seen it – there were only a few onlookers. It happened so fast.”