Dublin street flooded after canal gates left open by vandals

A street in Dublin was flooded last night after vandals had opened the three gates on the Grand Canal.

It took the Dublin Fire Brigade two and a half hours to bring it under control last night as thousands of gallons of canal water washed down Tyrconnell Road leaving homeowners in fear for their homes.

The Dublin Fire Brigade - who are called to the area constantly - attended the scene close to the Black Horse Inn in Inchicore, which is a popular spot for youngsters to go swimming, and said they had never seen the situation "as bad".

It is believed they opened the locks to allow water in the area they were swimming to swell.

A local said: "It's so it fills up high enough so they can jump in.

"They are always doing it. It's so they can pull themselves out of the water so it reaches the top of the canal wall."

Nobody was injured and there was no serious damage to property, despite one local being in a panic over his property.

He said: "It is getting very close to the door. My wife is panicking. What if it comes in?"