7.  The applicants, who are brother and sister, were born in 1959 and 1942 respectively. The first applicant (who is a Cypriot and British citizen) lives in London, while the second applicant (a Cypriot citizen) resides in Larnaca. 8.  The applicants alleged that until August 1974 they were living in a house owned by their father in Ayios Amvrosios, in the District of Kyrenia (northern part of Cyprus). This house was built on plot no. 233/9 of sheet/plan 13/23. The second applicant, who had been recently married, was living with her husband and daughter in the east wing of the house, a separate residence, while the first applicant was living with his mother and father in the west wing. The plot on which the two semi-detached residences had been built covered an area of 517 square metres (m²); each residence was of 290 m². They both had a garage and two floors. 9.  The applicants left their house on 13 August 1974, as the Turkish troops were advancing. On 17 August 1974 their father tried to visit his property but was arrested by Turkish soldiers. He was released on the same day, since he was a British citizen. 10.  On 19 May 1991 the applicants' father died. According to his will, dated 18 May 1988, the house and land in question was to be equally shared by the two applicants. On 30 July 1991, Mr T. Michaelides was appointed as executor of his will. On 10 July 1995 the applicants registered, in equal shares, their titles with the Department of Lands and Surveys of the Republic of Cyprus. The first applicant got the west residence, while the second applicant got the east one. The first applicant tried, via the British consular authorities, to visit his property, but did not obtain permission. 11.  The applicants had been informed that their house had been occupied by high-ranked Turkish military officers.