EVERY WEEKDAY EVENING, TheJournal.ie brings you the five stories you need to know before you hit the road.

1. #WATER PROTESTS: Tens of thousands of protesters took part in the latest mass demonstration against water charges in Dublin today.

2. #RIOT: The riot squad were deployed outside the Dáil after a Garda was injured at the protest. He is now being treated in hospital.

3. #ÁRAS ATTRACTA: The Taoiseach said he cannot guarantee that the abuse of residents in care is not being repeated in other care homes. It comes after last night’s Prime Time report showed shocking footage of abuse in a state residential care home in Mayo.

4. #GANGS: The Oireachtas heard today about a recent spike in young people taking their own lives amid drug-related debts to gangs in Dublin.

5. #FIGHTERS: The Ebola fighters have been named TIME magazine’s Person of the Year 2014.

Making a difference

A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

For the price of one cup of coffee each week you can make sure we can keep reliable, meaningful news open to everyone regardless of their ability to pay.

Support us Learn More

The 5 at 5 5 minutes, 5 stories, 5 o’clock…

Making a difference

A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.