Laura O'Neill

Laura is an NCTJ-qualified journalist who started her career at a local paper in the north of England.


She didn’t win any awards but was featured on Angry People In Local Newspapers three times.


She now works as a broadcast journalist for BBC North West Tonight. 

Upday •

Thousands of vulnerable people at risk during heatwave as cost of using fans rises 50%

Thousands of people are at risk during heatwaves this year after the cost of running electric fans at home increased by 50%, Upday found. As another heatwave approaches, people across the country will be digging out their electric fans to bring a crumb of relief during the clammy nights. Unfortunately, the simple fan that brought comfort during previous heatwaves may have become an unaffordable luxury for many this year, after the cost of running one for eight hours shot up to 12p, a 50% increase since 2021 and nearly double the cost in 2020, Upday found.
Upday •

‘I’ve never felt so helpless’: the UK families facing financial ruin as energy costs skyrocket

Anne Vivien-Smith, 51, looks at the avalanche of bills coming her way and is overcome by a sense of dread. She’s drowning. “I don’t think I’ve ever felt so helpless,” the Nottingham woman told Upday. "Like loads of people who’ve been just been getting by, there’s nothing left to cut back on, no savings left, no assets to sell, no homeownership, and as each day goes by the debt is growing.” The battles faced by Vivien-Smith are replicated across the UK — and the fuel poverty crisis is about to get much worse.
Upday •

Decision to scrap pandemic abortion scheme based on consultation dominated by pro-life campaigners

A controversial decision to scrap at-home abortions was based on a public consultation that was swamped by pro-life campaigners, Upday has found. The decision was made after 70% of respondents said they were in favour of ending the scheme, health bosses said. However, we now know that nearly 9,000 of the more than 18,000 consultation responses were submitted by anti-abortion campaigners and organisations.
Social Care Today •

Feature: support workers told to 'leave service users unsupported in the street'

A care worker is calling for more guidance around supporting people with learning disabilities during the lockdown. A support worker, who did not wish to be named, told Social Care Today that his employer instructed him to ‘leave service users in the street’ because he didn’t have the power to force them to lockdown under the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) He did not wish to name his employer but said they were ‘amazing’ to work for before the coronavirus crisis. However, following the outbreak, h
Social Care Today •

Feature: Trauma and deprivation linked to opioid use

People who’ve experienced trauma in their lives are more at risk of problematic opioid use, according to drug and alcohol charity Addaction. For Grace*, who had struggled with anxiety and depression throughout her life, her opioid addiction started with a knee injury which, following four operations, was still causing her pain. She said she was prescribed Tramadol by her GP which she said suddenly made her ‘feel beautiful’ after a life of struggling with anxiety and depression. But within a m
Social Care Today •

Feature: 'People will die' under system that labels support workers unskilled

There will be a ‘human cost’ to the new points-based immigration system that considers care workers to be of less value than fruit pickers, care industry experts have warned. Social Care Today spoke with Nicola Cromwell, one of the support workers the Home Office branded ‘unskilled’ when it announced the new system last week. And chief executive of NACAS, Karolina Gerlich, who is working to boost the public’s understanding of the important role support workers play in society. The care sector
Secret Manchester •

The Ultimate Manchester Bucketlist: 60 Things To Do In Manchester This Year

60 things to do in Manchester this year. What will you do in the city this year? Get some inspirational ideas for things to do in Manchester with our magical bucket list. • Re-live your childhood in an underground arcade bar • See the Lego cats at Chester Zoo • Or build your own Lego creations while you booze • Get your new profile picture in front of the Spinningfields neon signs • Or in front of the Brexit billboards • See the wall of death at Circus Funtasia • See the new show by the produce
Secret Manchester •

Posters Mocking Brexit Leaders With Their Own Words Have Appeared In Manchester

Billboards ‘exposing politicians’ lies and hypocrisy’ over leaving the EU are appearing all over the UK. The billboards are the brainchild of Led By Donkeys, four men, Ben Stewart, James Sadri, Oliver Knowles and Will Rose, who want to ‘highlight the hypocrisy of our politicians on Brexit’. The posters share direct quotes from politicians including, Nigel Farage, Jacob Reese-Mog, Theresa May and David Cameron, in the form of Tweets. And even Jeremy Corbyn hasn’t been spared, as a billboard pop
Secret Manchester •

A Bar Where Guests Can Play With Lego While They Booze Is Coming To Manchester

The famous Brick Bar, where guests can play with Lego while they drink, is coming to Manchester. When was the last time you played with Lego? It doesn’t stop being fun just because you’re all grown up and society says you should be building your credit rating instead of the Millennium Falcon. In fact, there’s a distinct lack of Lego-based activities catering for those who’d rather re-create their favourite Harry Potter sets out of bricks than deal with adult problems, until now! The people at
Lancashire Telegraph •

‘Dangerous’ man gouged victim’s eye in pub attack

A ‘DANGEROUS’ attacker who gouged the eye of his victim during a sustained and unprovoked attack in a pub toilet has been jailed for 13 years. Preston Crown Court heard how James Exton had been looking for trouble when he followed victim Steven Heyes into the Burnley Miners Social Club. Judge Beverley Lunt said she feared Mr Heyes would lose his eye altogether as a result of the attack which took place in November 2016 and branded Exton, who was jailed for 77 weeks in 2012 for his part in a br
Lancashire Telegraph •

Volunteer attacked by boss with metal pole

A SHOP owner who repeatedly hit a volunteer in the back with a metal pole has been given a curfew. Preston Crown Court heard how Mohammed Khalid, 48, attacked victim Richard Mason over a £70 debt at his Fruit and Veg store in Preston New Road, Blackburn. Prosecuting, David Clarke said: “Mr Mason had volunteered at the Fruit and Veg shop for five hours a week. “On June 9, last year, he told Khalid that he would not be able to work that evening as he was going out with people for dinner. “He w
Lancashire Telegraph •

Residents fight against ‘dictatorial’ housing provider

The residents of Willow Gardens in Darwen, managed by Together Housing, said they have had their services cut to the point where they are now classed as independent living. Resident’s representatives David Lord and David Bury, who both live in the complex, said staffing levels have been cut drastically since the complex was opened in 2013, going from one full-time manager and two part-time managers to just one off-site manager monitoring multiple sites. Mr Lord said: “In 2015 we were informed
Lancashire Telegraph •

PICTURES/VIDEO: Van ploughs into Ewood garden

TWO men have been arrested after reportedly crashing a van into a front garden. Police were called to a house in Sunnybank Road at 4.30pm after a white Peugeot Partner van was crashed through a front garden fence. A witness said the van 'came flying down' Park Lee Road before misjudging the turn onto Sunnybank Road and smashing through the fence into the front garden opposite the junction. She said two men left the van and walked away shortly before the police arrived. She said: "I heard one
Lancashire Telegraph •

Anger as woman with terminal cancer is called to benefit re-assessment

A WOMAN diagnosed with terminal cancer has been called to a 'consultation' to assess her capability to work. Krissy Johnson from Clitheroe was diagnosed with incurable metastatic Breast Cancer in September 2015. Nearly three years later, the 48-year-old has been called to a meeting by the Department for Work and Pensions to determine if she is capable of returning to work. The mother-of-one shared a letter she had been sent last week by the Independent Assessment Services on behalf of the DWP
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