On September 16, 2002, a group of 19 people, who were born in the Chagos Archipelago, picked up their suitcases from the carousel at Gatwick Airport and, having passed through immigration, walked into the South Terminal.

THE people of the Chagos Islands, driven from their Indian Ocean paradise by the British government more than 40 years ago, may soon be able to return home after a stunning High Court victory yesterday.