Residents of Dartmouth Square, in south Dublin were once again excluded from the public park in the centre of their square after a man who claims to own it replaced locks and chains that had been removed.
At the end of last week, the park was reopened by locals, who removed locked chains placed on the four entrance gates earlier in the week.
But on Saturday evening, Noel O'Gara, of Athlone, Co Westmeath, who claims ownership of the park, returned to the square and replaced the chains and locks on all four gates.
Local residents said they were very concerned by the move and believed that they were entitled to free access to the park.
One resident said the chains would probably remain on the gates this time and they would wait for Dublin City Council to pursue proof of ownership from Mr O'Gara.
Dublin City Council has confirmed that it received a solicitor's letter on behalf of Mr O'Gara, claiming that he owned the freehold title and that it was now negotiating with him to secure the park's future.
Speaking to The Irish Times, Mr O'Gara said his company Marble and Granite Tiles Ltd, had purchased the park in the last few months "for a bargain price" from Patrick Darley, whose family had owned the land.
He said Dublin City Council had also been in negotiation to buy the park from Mr Darley since 1987 and could have purchased it for £8,500. But prolonged negotiations were never completed and, Mr O'Gara said, Mr Darley became frustrated.
