An Irish brother and sister who are married and are expecting their second child have decided to emigrate due to the lack of support in Ireland.

The couple only discovered they were siblings after the birth of their first child when they were in a serious relationship.

The brother and sister told a TV3 pro gramme in Ireland that initially the news they shared the same father shattered their world, but they have since leaned to deal with it.

The couple met in a nightclub several years ago while they were both out with friends. They both come from different Irish towns about 100 miles apart.

The pair who use the false names, Maura and James, were married recently at a civil ceremony in Dublin at which their shared biological father was present.

The expectant parents say the understand why people are being critical of them for putting a second child's life at risk.

Their first child suffers from several medical conditions but Maura says that although the second pregnancy was not planned, she has no regrets about it.

"It is my situation and I will deal with it," she said."

"Deep down I know it is wrong -- it is always at the back of my mind, but I try to deal with it as best I can.

"People who are not in this situation would not really understand it."

Maura and James admitted that if they hadn't become parents, they would probably would have abandoned their relationship once they learned the truth.

A big concern now is how their children will deal with the revelation that their parents are siblings. The said that they sought the help of a child psychiatrist , but were not offered any support.

"We would very much like to talk to somebody about this, but we got the impression that as soon as the psychiatric services discovered who we were the shutters came down," said James. This, he added, is the primary reasons the couple plan to emigrate.

James maintains that coming from the same gene pool resulted in an intense attachment.

"Genetic attraction played a big role.

"When I look back now I realize we had these types of feelings that you just don't experience with anybody else," he explained.

"The intensity is so much greater; you can't stop thinking about that person -- it becomes like an addiction.

"We knew it was wrong and that we should walk away, but I just couldn't do it," he said.
Despite this, James said he would not recommend their type of relationship to anyone.

The couple spoke on TV3's Ireland AM program on Thursday, during which their identities remained concealed.

Concluding they said they want a fresh start and plan to emigrate soon.