The former graveyard, which reopened after a p450,000 redevelopment in December 2007, has had an unwanted reputation in recent years as a local drinking den.

Following its revamp just over two years ago it was to be closed at night in an effort to cut down on people hanging around the area. However, The Dundalk Democrat has received several complaints from residents in the Seatown area about it remaining open for long periods at a time.

On Monday night the gates to the garden were open after 8pm and they when checked by the newspaper before 7am the next morning, they were still open.

The council's failure to close St Leonard's at night has been attributed by people living in the area as one of the main reasons for a return of the drinking culture that has dogged it for years and one elderly woman was left in tears on Tuesday morning when she awoke to discover graffiti on her home.

Bridie Kettle, who has lived in Seatown for 55 years, told The Dundalk Democrat she was deeply upset over the incident.

"I was going to Mass when I noticed spray paint at the front of my house.

"My son had only just painted it and it'll cost a few bob now to clean it off.

"The house is pebble dashed so I can't just wash it off and I was very upset over the whole thing," she said.

Ms Kettle said it was not the first problem she had had with regard to St Leonard's Garden and told the paper she had been in contact with Town Clerk Frank Pentony over the matter.

"I've had a lot of trouble since they done it up. The landscapers just put clay over the old tarmac that was there but that means that when it rains all the muck and leaves are coming into my entry at the side of my house.

"I used to clean it every second day but I don't have the energy any more.

"I'd regularly hear people in the park at night but I'd be too afraid to go out to see what the noise is," she said.

Other residents, who did not wish to be named, said the wall just inside St Leonard's Garden had also had graffiti drawn on it on Monday night.

One woman said: "It's supposed to be locked after 8pm at night but it's clearly not. I wouldn't go in it any more."

Town Clerk Frank Pentony was unavailable for comment on the matter.