6.  The applicants were born in 1945 and live in Rome. 7.  V.C. was the owner of a flat in Rome, which she had let to C.V. 8.  In a writ served on the tenant on 9 June 1987, the owner informed the tenant of her intention to terminate the lease on expiry of the term on 4 February 1988 and summoned him to appear before the Rome Magistrate. 9.  By a decision of 13 January 1988, which was made enforceable on the same day, the Rome Magistrate upheld the validity of the notice to quit and ordered that the premises be vacated by 30 September 1989. 10.  On 13 October 1989, the owner served notice on the tenant requiring him to vacate the premises. 11.  On 4 February 1989, she informed the tenant that the order for possession would be enforced by a bailiff on 11 January 1990. 12.  Between 11 January 1990 and 13 November 1991, the bailiff made twelve attempts to recover possession. Each attempt proved unsuccessful, as the owner was not entitled to police assistance in enforcing the order for possession. 13.  On 12 November 1991, the applicants became the owners of the flat and pursued the enforcement proceedings. 14.  On 2 March 1994, the applicants served notice on the tenant requiring him to vacate the premises. 15.  On 31 March 1994, they informed the tenant that the order for possession would be enforced by a bailiff on 29 April 1994. 16.  Between 29 April 1994 and 3 March 2000, the bailiff made twenty-six attempts to recover possession. Each attempt proved unsuccessful, as the applicants were never granted the assistance of the police in enforcing the order for possession. 17.  In the meanwhile, on 24 January 1995, the applicants made a statutory declaration that they urgently required the premises as accommodation for themselves. 18.  On 7 April 2000, the applicants recovered possession of the flat.