Teenage bride who married her first cousin on Big Fat Gypsy Weddings causes outrage - with viewers saying union designed to 'keep wealth' in the family 'should be illegal'
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A teenager who married her first cousin on Channel 4's Big Fat Gypsy Wedding caused outrage among viewers, who said the union should be 'illegal'. Chantelle Kealy, then 18, from Rathkeale, Ireland, married her first cousin Jim on an episode of the series, and invited the whole town to watch their union.
![[The couple celebrated their nuptials with a huge party which the whole town was invited to, with the groom saying his number of best men was 'average']](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/13/15/93074363-14185177-The_couple_celebrated_their_nuptials_with_a_huge_party_which_the-a-49_1734103912446.jpg)
But despite the bride's enthusiasm for the big day, many social media users were left horrified with one writing: 'Marrying your first cousin really needs to be made a criminal offence. I feel really sorry for their children.'. The episode from 2012 has become pertinent again in the minds of many after a furore broke out last week when MP Iqbal Mohamed spoke out in defence of weddings between first cousins.
![[At the reception, the couple were joined by guests on the dance floor before they celebrated by cutting into a bespoke Barbie cake]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/13/15/93074367-14185177-At_the_reception_the_couple_were_joined_by_guests_on_the_dance_f-a-58_1734103912473.jpg)
Tory MP Richard Holden is hoping to bring forward legislation that would ban such unions, which are currently legal in the UK. He pointed to evidence showing it heightens the risk of birth defects and claimed it can 'reinforce negative structures'. Reflecting on Chantelle's wedding, dressmaker Thelma Madine, claimed at the time that the 'Rathkeale travellers' are 'all family and I think that's how they keep the wealth in Rathkeale because they just don't let it go out'.
![[For Chantelle and Jim, the bride's family were able to secure the engagement by paying his family a dowry, which can range between €50k- €120k]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/13/15/93074371-14185177-For_Chantelle_and_Jim_the_bride_s_family_were_able_to_secure_the-a-48_1734103912444.jpg)
Big Fat Gypsy Weddings was a TV sensation with ratings almost as eye-popping as the bridal gowns worn on the Channel 4 series, which ended in 2014. But many of those watching this particular special day at home were left shocked at the bride and groom being related, with one person writing online: 'Marrying your first cousin should definitely be illegal.'.
![[Chantelle wore a dress designed by traveller favourite Thelma Madine which was adorned with no less than 20,000 crystals]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/13/15/93074365-14185177-Chantelle_wore_a_dress_designed_by_traveller_favourite_Thelma_Ma-a-59_1734103912476.jpg)
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