A fierce brawl broke out between the two funeral directors in the graveyard as the shocked mourners watched: “It was rude and shameful.”
- A brawl between two funeral directors allegedly fought in Sydney on Saturday
- The directors reportedly appeared at the Lookwood Cemetery at the same time.
- Paul Rafud Jr. and John Francis allegedly started a dispute in front of the mourners
- Rafud reportedly hit Francis’ face while sitting in the car.
- Lahood has been charged with assault and will appear in court on July 28.
It is said that a fierce brawl took place in the graveyard in front of the sad family after they started fighting when the two funeral directors arrived at the graveyard at the same time.
Horrible mourners were burying their loved ones at Rookwood Cemetery in Sydney’s Inner West, where punch-ons allegedly took place around 11:00 am on Saturday.
Witnesses said Greenacre’s self-proclaimed funeral service operator, 2GB Radio Paul Lahood Jr., appeared outside the Catholic office on Burnett Avenue at the same time as John Francis of Granville-based Sympathy Funerals.
In standard operation, the funeral car must check in to the deceased’s respective offices before the vehicle from the graveyard leads the hearing and the rest of the procession to the grave.
Paul Rafud Jr. (pictured) was charged with hitting another funeral director in the face.
Witnesses say the dispute began after the funeral director appeared in the Catholic office at the same time.
When the funeral director checked in, the two began a quarrel, and Mr. Rafud allegedly approached Francis with Francis sitting in the car, hitting his face and bleeding his lips and nose.
“It was terrible,” one witness told the broadcaster.
“The priest was sitting beside a man who was allegedly injured. It was rude and shameful.”
Both companies and NSW police confirmed to 2GB that an incident had occurred in the graveyard on Saturday.
According to police, police officers were called to the graveyard to report the assault, and a 57-year-old man was reportedly beaten many times by another man following a verbal quarrel.
John Francis Daley (pictured) of Sympathy Funerals in Granville is allegedly beaten “many times” in the face.
“After the inquiry, police arrested a 35-year-old man at Auburn Police Station around 3 pm,” they said.
“He was charged with the assault that caused the actual physical harm, and was a general assault and was released on bail to appear in the Burwood District Court on July 28, 2022.
“Pairs are believed to be known to each other.”
The Daily Mail Australia is seeking comments from Paul Lahood Funeral Services and Sympathy Funerals.
Photo: Paul Rafud Funeral Service Vehicle outside Concord’s Catholic Parish