Facebook group for Sydney suburb of Rose Bay shut down over defamation threats

Administrator closes the Rose Bay community group after acrimonious dispute forced her to spend $9,000 in legal fees

A popular Facebook group for residents of the harbourside Sydney suburb of Rose Bay has been shut down after defamation threats were made against the administrator by the administrator of a rival Facebook group.

Bianca Havas started the Rose Bay Community - Official Group in her spare time seven years ago, between working full time and parenting. Over time the group grew to more than 5,500 members, mainly women, sharing information about events in the suburb. But Havas agreed to shut down the group after an acrimonious dispute with the administrator of a splinter group that led to defamation threats.