Skip to content

Declan Cregan: Gambling 'took over my life

Belfast man Declan Cregan, who gambled for 11 years, says he couldn't have gone through a single day without placing a bet.

He says he reached rock bottom when he lost £8,000 in one day.

Now a teaching assistant, Declan says he still has many dark days but that his life is so much better since he stopped gambling three years ago.

21 October 2022

Explore More

A man with a black beard and black hair stands in front of University of Ulster building wearing a black hoody

Belfast reacts to Trump's US election victory

Northern Ireland

Indiana Land sign, with snakes and birds

A trip down memory lane with BBC archives

Northern Ireland

Melissa Hamilton - a woman with long, blonde hair which is tied back in a ponytail is smiling as she looks slightly off camera.

'To perform ballet back home is a dream come true'

Northern Ireland

Kwame Daniels in front of the Telegraph building in Belfast. He is wearing thick-rimmed glasses, a green jacket, a red shirt and a ruck sack.

'I'm home': Anti-slavery show explores Belfast diversity

Northern Ireland

Christ the Redeemer's vice-principal Nicola McKeown - she has blond hair and a wide smile

Grownups go back to maths class

Northern Ireland

A translink train, painted yellow, blue and grey, stationary on the rail lines at Belfast's Grand Central Station

'A hugely significant day for public transport'

Northern Ireland

Holly Hennessey holding her Siamese cat, Captain.

Cruise ship passenger ready to live her dream life

Northern Ireland

Woman with white hair wearing gold rimmed glasses, a white cardigan and a green top

'This is home for the next 15 years'

Northern Ireland

Angela and Stephen Theriac

Cruise passengers to leave with 'wonderful memories'

March belfast

'It's so good to see a bit of diversity, that's what you want'

Northern Ireland

Man in blue shirt hands keys to ginger woman in white t-shirt holding a baby in a pink dress and white hairband

'I didn't expect to get one of these new homes'

Northern Ireland

Robot in brightly coloured lego

'People are amazed my robot can solve Rubik's Cube'

Northern Ireland

Pensioner at a tea dance

'It's either fuel or food'

Northern Ireland

Maddie with the two binmen

Meet the dog brightening up a weekly bin round

Northern Ireland

Cruise passengers Angela and Stephen Theriac in Belfast

Meet the cruise passengers stranded in Belfast

Northern Ireland

DJ K.A.D in a black leather jacket. She has long black hair and is smiling at the camera in front of a stage.

Emerge DJ - 'I would dance to two spoons beating together'

Northern Ireland

Melanie Jones

PSNI update on weekend policing plans

Northern Ireland

Police landrover in front of a fire

Man has 'no sympathy' for burnt out businessman

Northern Ireland

Mohammed Idris

'It's not a place to open a business'

Northern Ireland

a man with his face covered running alongside a PSNI vehicle; he looks like he is about to throw a projectile that he is holding

Dozens involved in 'protracted' south Belfast disorder

Northern Ireland

Emma, with long brown hair and wearing a purple hoody, looks to the side of the camera

How schools can help bereaved pupils with grief

Emma, who lost her brother, says it can be "overwhelming" to deal with grief alongside school work.

Northern Ireland

Tom Hadden sits on a grey sofa. He is wearing a stripey top.

'Rural road crash changed my life'

Tom Hadden was driving a bin lorry down a country road when another truck collided with his vehicle.

Northern Ireland

A woman with straight blonde hair looks to the side of the camera. She is wearing a blue t-shirt and necklace.

Parents of SEN young people call for support

Currently pupils with special educational needs do not receive automatic support to continue in education when they leave school.

Northern Ireland

Memorial stone in Ballyatrick forest to Inga Maria Hauser. Bouquets of flowers have been placed around the stone

Murdered backpacker's family hopeful over inquest

Eighteen-year-old Inga Maria Hauser's body was found in Ballypatrick forest in County Antrim in 1988.

Northern Ireland

A hole in a dark gravel road up close with a road continuing in the background surrounded by fields

'The edges have eroded away'

Potholes and deteriorating rural roads are affecting journeys, said a transport provider.

Northern Ireland

Sebastian is being kissed on the cheek by his mother Amanda. He has short blonde hair and is wearing a blue jacket. Amanda is wearing a black and white headscarf and gold feathered earrings.

'He has nowhere to go and he's still there'

Sebastian's mother said he had limited access to the outside world after spending 10 months in hospital.

Northern Ireland

Noleen Mullan, the mother of Katie Simpson, speaking at a press conference. She is wearing an olive coat over a white top.

Katie Simpson family 'feeling empty' after report

Katie Simpson's mother says those responsible for police failings "are nowhere to be seen".

Northern Ireland

Debbie McCrudden

'I'm glad I didn't let the fear stop me'

Debbie McCrudden was diagnosed with epilepsy in 2014 and was worried about having children.

Northern Ireland

A man with black glasses and a yellow jumper looks at the camera. He has black hair

'We caught my cancer early - that was key'

Two men are raising awareness of the signs of testicular and prostate cancer.

Northern Ireland

Sandra Larmour

‘Drugs was never really a topic of conversation’

Sandra Larmour's daughter Jeni died hours after arriving at Newcastle University to begin her degree.

Northern Ireland

Gillian Kearney speaking at a police press conference. There is a green PSNI banner behind her and four microphones in front. She is in uniform and has blonde hair, which is tied back.

Increased police presence in Derry after attacks

Speaking at a press conference, Ch Supt Kearney says the extra policing will continue over the coming days.

Northern Ireland

Cahir O'Hagan in football top in stadium

'Medication wasn't able to save my brother'

Cahir O'Hagan was 25 when he died from cystic fibrosis while waiting for a lung transplant.

Northern Ireland

Lara Storey sitting in front of a window

'I never had anyone sit down and take me seriously'

Former Tesco employee Lara Storey wants other women to know they don’t have to accept unwanted behaviour.

Northern Ireland

Deirdre Shakespeare wearing a white blouse and gold necklace. She has wavy blonde hair and is outside. There are trees and fields behind her.

Mother 'vindicated' by report into autistic son's treatment

Deirdre Shakespeare's son, Harry, was restrained in a chair at his special school without her knowledge.

Northern Ireland

Christine McCleery - she has long blonde hair and a black top on.

'I want to prevent this happening again' - Mum of stillborn baby

Services for pregnant women need to be overhauled in Northern Ireland, a review finds.

Northern Ireland

Woody the dog - he wears a harness and is a red labrador. He has beautiful brown eyes

'One ferret killed 27 puffins' - the dog keeping seabirds safe

Ferrets and rats pose a grave risk to puffins and other seabirds who breed on Rathlin Island every year.

Northern Ireland

The Ferry

Strangford ferry to be suspended for five weeks

Commuters and GAA fans are worried about the works.

Northern Ireland

Dylan wearing a maroon blazer, white shirt, maroon/green and white school tie and black glasses standing in front of a police car with his mum who's wearing a grey top and black glasses with her hair tied up

'It was scary, very scary'

A school bus carrying more than 40 pupils crashed on Monday afternoon.

Northern Ireland

The Duke of Edinburgh is on the right wearing a tweed jacket, burgundy sweatshirt and grey trousers. He is kicking a football. Next to him on his right are three young people - a boy and two girls- wearing blue sports tops and black bottoms

Duke of Edinburgh meets young award participants

Prince Edwards meets young people taking part in Duke of Edinburgh and President's awards.

Northern Ireland

Two cast members on stage of the production

50 years of NI gay befriending helpline

The play brings to life a collection of real-life phone calls and letters submitted in the 1970s.

Northern Ireland