TWINS who unwittingly got married after they were separated at birth were victims of a quirk of fate “cruel beyond belief,” it emerged last night.

 

The smitten brother and sister — adopted by different families — discovered the shattering truth only after tying the knot.

 

Against all odds they had met and fallen for each other — neither even knowing they had a twin.

 

The horrified British couple faced the heartbreak of seeking to have their marriage annulled in the High Court after eventually finding out their love was forbidden.

 

A judge was forced to rule the union was NEVER valid in law.

 

Last night the peer who uncovered the astonishing case told The Sun of the twins’ “trauma”.

 

Lord Alton of Liverpool said: “Anyone hearing this story would feel heartbroken for them.

 

Trauma

 

“It’s cruel beyond belief to discover that someone you’re in love with is so closely related to you.”

 

The twins were not named — but it is known they were separated soon after birth. Each was adopted by different parents — who never told them they had a twin. It was not clear HOW they eventually discovered they were brother and sister.

 

Experts said they would have been naturally attracted to each other — because they were so alike.

 

Biological psychologist Dr George Fieldman said: “Their mannerisms — and even their odour — would remind them of themselves.” Psychotherapist Audrey Sandbank, a consultant for the Twins and Multiple Births Association, said: “These twins were together until they were born and may have had a strong connection in the womb.

 

“When they met they would have felt like soul mates — particularly as like all siblings they shared approximately 50 per cent of their genes.”

 

The organisation’s chief executive Keith Reed said: “This sad situation shows that in the majority of cases it is vital that multiple birth siblings are raised together.”

 

Pro-life crusader Lord Alton, who used the case to highlight problems with the Human Embryology and Tissues Bill in Parliament, said it showed the need for children to know their biological parents.

 

Donors who help couples have children lost their right to anonymity in April 2005. A new law gave children the right to identify their genetic parents when they turn 18.

 

But there is still no legal obligation for the parents who raised them to tell them the truth about how they were conceived.

 

Lord Alton said of the twins’ marriage: “We are opening the door to more cases like this one.

 

“One of the most fundamental things of all is to know who you are. The issue here is about human rights.” He told the Lords the saga of the twins was revealed to him by a High Court judge.

Inevitable

Lord Alton said: “It involved the normal birth of twins who were separated at birth and adopted by separate parents.

 

“They were never told that they were twins. They met later in life and felt an inevitable attraction.”

 

Speaking to The Sun last night, he admitted: “I don’t know if the judge was hearing the case himself or if it was simply one he was familiar with.”

 

The Human Embryology and Tissues Bill is due to be voted on next Tuesday and again on January 21.

 

It eases the path for lesbian and gay couples to have test-tube babies as well as recognising same- sex couples as parents.

I guess now they can't not be away from each other for the rest of their lives :shocked2: