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Couple win court fight over villa Couple win court fight over villa
(29 minutes later)
A Sussex couple seeking to keep their dream holiday villa in Cyprus have won their High Court battle. A Sussex couple seeking to keep their dream holiday villa in northern Cyprus have won their High Court battle.
Linda and David Orams, from Hove, built their property in Turkish-controlled northern Cyprus four years ago after buying the plot with retirement funds.Linda and David Orams, from Hove, built their property in Turkish-controlled northern Cyprus four years ago after buying the plot with retirement funds.
They were taken to court by Meletios Apostolides, who said his family owned the land, near Kyrenia, in the 1970s.They were taken to court by Meletios Apostolides, who said his family owned the land, near Kyrenia, in the 1970s.
He had insisted that either the villa was knocked down or the Orams handed their property in Sussex over to him.He had insisted that either the villa was knocked down or the Orams handed their property in Sussex over to him.
Mr Orams, 61, and his wife, 59, spent their £160,000 savings on buying the plot and building the villa and pool.Mr Orams, 61, and his wife, 59, spent their £160,000 savings on buying the plot and building the villa and pool.
They bought the land from the registered owner in accordance with the laws and land registry system of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus - which was declared after Turkish troops invaded the area in 1974. 'Substantial victory'
They bought the land from the registered owner in accordance with the laws and land registry system of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) - which was declared after Turkish troops invaded the area in 1974.
A statement issued on behalf of the couple said the judgment was a "total vindication" of their position.A statement issued on behalf of the couple said the judgment was a "total vindication" of their position.
It said: "It is a substantial victory in a battle by them to maintain and retain their retirement home and their home in England.
"The judgment allows others in the same position to invest in TRNC without the threat of enforcement of judgments rendered in the Republic of Cyprus in the EU."
Their counsel, Cherie Booth QC, had argued that the case raised a matter of fundamental importance for people who lived in the Turkish-controlled region in relation to property dealings.
Mr Justice Jack's ruling that a judgement obtained against the retired couple in Nicosia was not enforceable in the English courts followed a four-day hearing at the High Court in London in July.