McGregor CCTV would be ‘disseminated’ on the internet

The judge said this “clearly points to a severe danger that he will get it [the footage] and discussions have taken place.”

He went on to note that McGregor had posted a series of social media messages calling Nikita Hand “a liar”, something the judge said was “not on.”

“You cannot call a person a liar, that’s not on, that’s implying someone has perjured themselves in court,” he said.

Mr Farrell said there was no basis that the CCTV was disseminated post verdict, and McGregor has the CCTV in possession as he is “perfectly entitled” to have.

“This implication that the party is not entitled to have it in his possession is utter nonsense,” he said, adding that there is a plan to appeal the verdict in the assault case.

Mr Farrell said the reportage of the Italian businessman’s statements is “hearsay upon hearsay”.

“There’s no need for an order of any sort,” he said.

The judge said there was a “substantial risk that this (the dissemination) will happen.”

“Let’s get real about it,” he said.

“The internet is such at the moment that if this gets into the hands of anyone else it will be at the furthest corner of that dark hole and used by everybody.

“They won’t have to be told by McGregor what to do with it.”

The judge noted that if McGregor wants an appeal, another jury could have already seen the footage, and been influenced by it.

Ray Boland SC, representing Ms Hand, told the court that McGregor had scandalised the court with his social media postings.

“McGregor is in effect, having had his case fully litigated in front of a jury, decided having heard all of the evidence, decided he was liable, he is seeking to relitigate in the court of public opinion abusing his considerable social media following,” he said.

The judge will return with a decision on Thursday afternoon.