In a judgment handed down by the High Court this morning, Mr Justice Charles Meenan said the applicants “have made no arguable case against the notice parties”.

The judge noted that the applicants “have no medical or scientific qualifications” but had made claims that the number of people infected with COVID-19 and the number of deaths “were overstated”.

Mr Justice Meenan said: “No factual basis nor any supportive expert opinion was deposed to, to support this.

“Rather, in court, the applicants gave unsubstantiated opinions, speeches, engaged in empty rhetoric and sought to draw an historical parallel with Nazi Germany. Such a parallel is both absurd and offensive.

“Unsubstantiated opinions, speeches, rhetoric and a bogus historical parallel are not substitutes for facts.”