"There is more action in the Great Hall at Stormont today than on the front line in Afghanistan," said the DUP's Ian Paisley jnr.
Northern politics are always passionate but they a reached a new high yesterday with Assembly members involved in physical clashes. "The Brawl in the Hall" it was called, and there was nothing parliamentary about it.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland and security guards struggled to keep both sides apart. "Sinn FΘin corner-boys!" shouted the DUP's Rev Willie McCrea. "DUP thugs!" said the SDLP's Dr Alasdair McDonnell.
There were numerous complaints to the police and threatened compensation claims. Emotions had been running high all morning. Anti-agreement unionists were enraged that David Trimble was re-elected First Minister only by a change of rules. It took four members of the Alliance Party and Women's Coalition to redesignate as "unionist" to secure him the majority of unionist members he required.
"You have twisted the rules, you have debased democracy, you don't deserve any dignity," somebody shouted after his election in the chamber.
Mr Trimble and his new deputy, Mark Durkan, took their pledge of office against a chorus of "Cheats! Cheats!"
It got worse. "Here come the First Cheat and Deputy First Cheat," shouted Ian Paisley jnr as Messrs Trimble and Durkan entered the Great Hall for their first joint press conference.
Both men tried to smile and sound positive but the situation was rapidly deteriorating. Assembly members began pushing each other. There was kicking and shouting.
Sinn FΘin's Alex Maskey, a former boxer, became involved. Colleagues held DUP member Paul Berry and Alasdair McDonnell of the SDLP. By now, hundreds of civil servants, party workers, and members of the public were crowding the corridors and balconies to watch. Mr Trimble and Mr Durkan kept addressing the media but could hardly be heard.
The PSNI and Stormont security staff eventually restored calm. Later in the canteen, Assembly members compared cuts and bruises. "Show The Irish Times your scars," DUP member Roger Hutchinson was urged and he rolled up his trousers to show a bruised leg.
Sinn FΘin's Barry McElduff was alone among colleagues in not pointing the finger at the DUP. "I blame 800 years of British imperialism," he joked.
But the DUP's Sammy Wilson remained defiant: "We will fight them on the beaches. We will fight them on the shores. We will fight them on the steps. We will fight them on the floors!"