Plaza closed after residents complained of 'streams of urine' and 'pure hell' of public drinking

Portobello Plaza in Dublin, which has been shut and fenced off by Dublin City Council due to large numbers of people engaging in "unacceptable" behaviour along the Grand Canal in recent weekends. Photograph: Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie

A popular public plaza was shut after local residents wrote to complain of “streams of urine” on their streets, people offering money to use their bathrooms, open drug dealing, along with threats and intimidation.

Dublin City Council faced a backlash after deciding to close down Portobello Plaza because of large crowds gathering in the area at weekends.