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The New York Times
Europe
British Peer Cites
Twins
Who Married
Unwittingly
By JOHN F. BURNS,
nytimes,com on the Web, January 13, 2008
LONDON, Jan.12 — A brother and
sister who were parted at birth and adopted by different families married
without knowing of their biological relationship, and then won an annulment, a
leading anti-abortion campaigner, David Alton, said in the House of Lords on
Friday.
Lord Alton, a peer who is also one of Britain’s leading advocates for children’s
rights, cited the case in a debate over new legislation on human fertilization
and embryology, which opponents say will weaken the ability of children to
identify their biological parents.
Lord Alton, who said he had been told of the case by the high court judge who
granted the annulment, did not name the judge or the couple or offer any other
details, beyond saying the case was recent.
A parliamentary transcript of the peer’s December speech, published this week,
quoted him as saying that the couple were never told they had been born as
twins. “They met later and felt an inevitable attraction, and the judge
had to deal with the consequences,” he said.
Children’s rights groups in Britain have argued that both biological parents
should be named on birth certificates, including births in which the genetic
father donated his sperm. But other groups, including those supporting gay
and lesbian rights, have opposed a so-called “father clause,” saying it could
cause children, including those with same-sex parents, unnecessary distress.
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