The families of an estranged couple who came to blows in a church after a First Holy Communion celebration were warned by a magistrate today to stop their 'shameful' behaviour because it was having a detrimental affect on the couple's daughter.

Members of the two families were in court today in an ongoing case after the incident at Our Lady of Mt Carmel Parish Church in Fleur-de-Lys in June last year.

The incident related to the fact that the girl's mother did not want photos of her daughter taken by either family.

Magistrate Clare Stafrace Zammit noted that previous orders by the court had been ignored by the families or used as ammunition against each other.

The girl's father said he was annoyed by the fact that he had paid for a photographer and did not have a single photo. The issue, he said, was between him and his wife and his wife's family should not get involved.

The man and the woman have an ongoing case in the Family Court.

Lawyer Michael Schriha, representing the wife, said proceedings in the criminal court were not going to solve anything. Lawyer Robert Abela, appearing for the father, agreed, and said a solution needed to be found.

The Magistrate suggested that a child psychologist be appointed so that any damage caused to the child could be detected and the parents would understand what was happening.

She asked the parents whether they wanted to see children resort to drugs or  worse because of their parents' arguing.

At the end of the sitting two photos of the Holy Communion were passed from the mother to the father.

The Magistrate ordered that the parents and their families do not speak or molest each other.