**A UK couple face demolition of their villa in Turkish-controlled northern Cyprus after a ruling affecting thousands of holiday home owners.**David and Linda Orams, of Hove, Sussex, spent their savings building the villa.
But the European Court then ruled the original landowner retained the property rights he had before being forced away by the Turkish occupation.
And the UK Court of Appeal has rejected the couple’s claims the judge had close links to Cyprus and was biased.
President of the European Court of Justice, Judge Vassilios Skouris, had visited Cyprus and received delegations from the republic while deliberating on the case, the Orams’ legal team had said.
Former president of Cyprus, Tassos Papadopoulos, had also bestowed upon him “one of the highest orders of honour that the Republic has to confer”, they argued.
However, upholding the European ruling, Lord Justice Pill said there was “no real possibility” that Judge Skouris would be influenced.
“The judgment of the court is in no way tarnished by those contacts, considered either individually or cumulatively,” he added.
The European ruling had backed the original decision of a southern Cyprus court ordering the immediate demolition of the villa, pool and fencing.
Mr and Mrs Orams had also been ordered to give back the property to the original owner, Meletios Apostolides, and pay him damages.
British judges referred the case to European counterparts after Mr Apostolides appealed against a High Court ruling that the Nicosia court’s decision was not enforceable.
This latest ruling could affect thousands of others who bought land in northern Cyprus which once belonged to Cypriots who feld the 1974 Turkish invasion.
Constantis Candounas, who represented Mr Apostolides, said after the judgment was delivered: "This creates a new legal framework in those cases where foreigners are trespassing on such properties.
“But each case must be decided on its own particular facts.”
Architect Mr Apostolides commented: “This is a very good and a just decision.”
The Orams were not in court and not available for comment.