A newlywed doctor has been killed and her husband critically injured in a shooting during their honeymoon in Antigua.

The couple, both believed to be aged 31 and from Pontardawe, near Swansea, Wales, were attacked in their holiday cottage at the Cocos Hotel and Restaurant in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Catherine Mullany, formerly Bowen, died after being shot in the head. Her husband Benjamin, a physiotherapist, is fighting for his life in hospital after being shot in the neck.

Mr and Mrs Mullany had arrived in the Caribbean on July 14 after getting married in the Swansea Valley village of Cilybebyll two days earlier, and were expected to return home later today.

A brief statement from the parents of Catherine Mullany, released through the South Wales Police, said: "We are deeply shocked and devastated at the recent events in Antigua and are struggling to comprehend what has happened to Ben and Catherine.

"We appreciate the support of our family and friends and would ask the media to respect our privacy at this difficult time."

Her uncle Gareth Jones, of Hen-dre Las Farm, Rhos, has revealed that his son Jonathan, Mrs Mullany's cousin, regarded the resort as too violent to return to after he honeymooned there five years ago.

Mr Jones said: "My niece had not long qualified as a doctor and this will be a great loss to the community. She was married a fortnight ago and will now never see the photographs of her own wedding. It's tragic."

He added that he had been to see Mrs Mullany's parents at their farm in Cilybebyll soon after the family received news of her death.

"David and my sister Rachel only learned of what has happened this morning themselves. They are still surrounded by wedding photographs at the moment and the tragedy is my niece had not even seen them yet.

"To be honest, we are all stunned. This is so tragic. I don't know the full details but when I spoke with my sister this morning she was very, very shaken.

"My niece and her husband were due back tomorrow. This has come at the end of their honeymoon. I am not quite sure of the circumstances but it seems that they have been shot in a robbery.

"Ben is still ill. He was shot in the neck and apparently his life is in the balance. My niece was killed outright. It was robbery apparently."

Antigua High Commissioner Carl Roberts said further details will be made public later while Police Commissioner Gary Nelson said officers from a special task force for serious crime were responsible for the inquiry.

Local media reported a spree of shootings on the holiday island, with at least two other people attacked by masked gunmen.

Dozens of pictures of the couple's wedding day on July 12 are posted on one social networking site. They show them getting married at a rural church before celebrating with friends at a reception.

One comment read: "Congratulations! Wishing you and your husband the happiest of lives together xxx."

A spokeswoman at the hotel, a popular getaway for newlyweds, said they had no comment to make on the shooting.

Its website bills the hotel as an "exclusive resort for those looking to escape to paradise", located between two white sand beaches.

© Independent Television News Limited 2009. All rights reserved.