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Angry protesters are to stage another rally against a family allegedly involved in criminal activity tonight.

After a demonstration forced the family to leave their home, the mob plans to go back to their home to "get them gone".

The protest will take place in Manor Street, Co Waterford at 9.30pm tonight in a bid to force a family to flee.

A tense stand-off between an angry mob and armed gardai on Saturday resulted in one arrest after the front door of a house was kicked in and windows smashed.

More than 200 people gathered in Railway Square in Waterford at 5pm on Saturday when an organised rally against alleged criminal activity turned ugly.

Around 70 then made their way to the back of a house nearby.

Gardai at the scene were seriously undermanned, with fewer than 10 officers present for the first hour at least.

One man said he was earlier chased by two occupants of the house, carrying a “dagger” and a lead pipe. This was confirmed by neighbours who witnessed it.

Before 6pm on Saturday, prior to the arrival of armed gardai, around 70 people went across the road to the back entrance of the house for around 20 minutes.

Gardai moved to secure the area and the crowd finally dispersed nearly five hours later with one person arrested but later released.

Sgt James Twomey said reinforcements “had to be called in from Tramore” while the armed Garda unit was also tasked to prevent the mob entering the house.

Armed officers had to escort about 20 residents, a number of them children, to a secure location.

Speaking at the scene Sgt Twomey said: “I haven’t seen anything like this since the drug protests in Dublin in the 80s.

“The story is, there’s a group that believes people living in that house are carrying out criminal activity... we are investigating.”

(Image: Noel Brown)

Temperatures have been boiling in the city in recent weeks after a number of muggings, beatings and intimidation were reported to gardai.

Sources believe the gang may also have been grooming a 14-year-old girl.

A group of about 40 people chanted “scum”, “out” and “get them out” in the tense stand-off.

One bystander, who lives close, by said: “I saw the man being chased by two fellas. One was carrying a knife and the other a lead pipe.

“The neighbours are sick and tired of them – they have taken over the park there and are intimidating people.”

Insp John Mulligan said: “There were about 20 people in there, adults and children. Two windows were broken in and the front door. One person was arrested and a file will be prepared for the DPP. We played it softly softly and the crowd went off at around 9pm.

“All we can do is play it by ear and watch the situation.”

Sinn Fein councillor John Hearne, who has been liaising with locals and officers, last night added: “The gardai told me they’d nine criminals charged and had put in successful raids.

“The best thing was to not get in their way but I do understand the frustration people feel about the levels of crime in the area and I’ve called for people to avoid that area for their own safety.”

Cllr Hearne added the landlord had issued an eviction notice to the tenants.