Andrew Mangano: Former Nedlands councillor claims City held documents from him ahead of defamation trial

Former City of Nedlands councillor Andrew Mangano claims the city has “unreasonably” held documents from him ahead of his defamation trial brought on by a Jutland Parade property owner. Paul and Meredith McGarry are suing the former Nedlands council representative over claims he defamed them in notices of motion he presented to the council in May and September 2022, as well as in comments he made during livestreamed meetings. The comments refer to a dispute over a verge on Perth’s most exclusive street, Jutland Parade in Nedlands — where Mrs McGarry purchased a property for $12.4 million in 2022. Mr Mangano claimed its previous and current owners had illegally placed fill on the verge, causing a trip hazard. Mr McGarry claims these comments had resulted in “damage to their reputations”. He is also seeking an injunction against the former councillor from repeating the claims he alleges to be defamatory. On Tuesday during a Supreme Court directions hearing, several matters were discussed in preparation for trial, including documents that Mr Mangano was asked to provide which relate to the Jutland Road property. Mr Mangano, who represented himself during Tuesday’s appearance, claimed city staff had held him back from accessing the documents. “City of Nedlands have unreasonably held documents from me .... including documents which have been fully redacted ... full pages blanked out,” he said in court. “I’ve requested an FOI back in September 22, but that is unlikely to be reviewed by this year.” Mr Mangano said he intended to retain a lawyer during the trial. He previously elected to cease legal aid from the Local Government Insurance Scheme (LGIS) because of a recommendation for him to settle the case. “Insurers are insurers”, Mr Mangano said on Tuesday regarding LGIS. “They will throw you under the bus if they want to.” In March last year, while still a councillor, Mr Mangano asked the City of Nedlands to help pay for his defence but the council voted unanimously against ratepayers funding his legal costs, which was understood to have possibly cost up to $300,000 if the matter was to go to trial. Mr Mangano made a second attempt in July to secure some council funding — this time $7500 to fund an advice from a King’s Counsel — but that request was also shot down in a 3-9 vote by the council. The McGarry’s five-storey mansion on the property was approved by the City of Nedlands last year despite backlash from neighbours that claimed the building would “grossly exceeded council guidelines”. The trial is set to begin in early March next year and both sides have said they will be bringing in witnesses — with Mr Mangano claiming four of his witnesses are neighbours to the property who have already provided him with statements.