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Man dies after shooting outside Fermanagh wedding

The shooting happened as a wedding was taking place (Pic: Ronan McGrade/Fermanagh Herald)
The shooting happened as a wedding was taking place (Pic: Ronan McGrade/Fermanagh Herald)

One of two men shot at a wedding in Northern Ireland today has died, the PSNI has said.

The incident happened outside St Mary's Catholic church in the rural border village of Newtownbutler, Co Fermanagh at around lunchtime.

The wedding was being attended by members of the travelling community. The wedding party and guests had travelled from Longford and Dublin.

The dead man was in his 60s. He was flown to hospital in a police helicopter but later died from his injuries.

The other shooting victim, in his 30s, did not suffer life-threatening injuries.

A third man is understood to have sustained a knife wound to his hand.

PSNI Detective Chief Inspector Michael Harvey said: "The victim was shot along with another man outside a chapel on Main Street in Newtownbutler at around 1pm this afternoon.

"He was flown to hospital in a police helicopter but died from his injuries.

"The other man, who is in his 30s, is not believed to have sustained any life-threatening injuries."

Parish priest Father Michael King was inside the church preparing to conduct the marriage ceremony when the shooting happened outside. He said the bride was at the back of the church at that point.

He said he went outside and saw a group of men gathered around the injured pair. He said police and the ambulance service were then called.

Fr King told local radio that the ceremony then proceeded.
"I went on ahead with the wedding, I could do nothing else because they were anxious to get this girl married," he said.

"So I went on ahead and did Mass and did the wedding."

He added: "The bride was a bit traumatised, so I just spoke to her and told her to take a few deep breaths and to relax herself and told her she was safe here."