Top News

A player in Ireland has made history with a staggering €250million (£208m) jackpot win, smashing records to become the nation's largest ever lottery winner.

The recommends the fortunate individual "stay calm, get independent legal and financial advice and contact us as soon as they can". But staying cool in the face of a newfound fortune is easier said than done.

Margaret Loughrey from Strabane, Northern Ireland, knew that more than anyone. Despite her £27 million EuroMillions triumph, she declared the victory "destroyed" her life and sadly, she died eight years following her windfall.

READ MORE:

READ MORE:

Before she was dubbed 'Maggie Millions', Margaret enjoyed a cheerful childhood alongside her five siblings.

However, grief struck in her teenage years when her father Hughie died unexpectedly. Her brother Paul reminisced: "He was a bricklayer and fell off a roof when he was 47. It was a terrible time. He was a fantastic father. I don't think Margaret got over it and after that she had mental health issues."

Margaret's life changed in November 2013, when, at the age of 48 and living on £71 a week, she bought a Lucky Dip EuroMillions ticket.

She had to re-examine her numbers ten times before it finally sunk in that she had hit the jackpot. Stepping outside for some fresh air, she then spent five hours pacing around her house before ringing Paul to break the news that she was now £27million richer.

Paul recalled: "I was the first to be told. We were close right up until the money. But from that day I knew. I told the rest of the family this is not going to be good for Margaret.

"People have often said to me, 'It must be amazing to win all that money?' But I always respond, be careful what you wish for because it almost destroyed our entire family. Not just Margaret."

Paul, who has three children, shared that Margaret struggled to cope with her newfound wealth, which led to her pushing her four brothers and sister away. He described it as "very sad" and noted that his sister "just didn't want to know us anymore".

Despite severing ties, she still handed out £1million each to her siblings and closest friends. Paul mused: "She didn't want us in her life but still she gave us the money. It doesn't make sense, does it? But she made sure we were all OK."

For Margaret, winning the EuroMillions prize marked the start of a downward spiral, resulting in her being sectioned only months later. Two years after hitting the jackpot, life took a sour turn after she was convicted of assaulting a taxi driver whilst under the influence and handed a community service sentence.

Margaret opened up about the darker side of sudden wealth, lamenting to Sunday Life that her fortune plummeted to a £5 million by 2019, and theft made her feel targeted.

In a heartfelt confession, she said: "I will never have peace as long as I live. Even if I didn't have a penny left, I won't. I regret winning the lottery. Of course I do. I was a happy person before. I am a human being and all it has done is destroy my life."

Sharing her struggles in the emotional interview, Margaret detailed how her high life led to her downfall: "I have had six years of this. I don't believe in religion, but if there is a hell, I have been in it. It has been that bad. I went down to five-and-a half stone."

Despite splurging on cars like a VW camper van and a Land Rover and upgrading her home into a lavish sanctuary, Margaret retreated back to her modest bungalow, with even her brother hinting the home was simply too big.

Margaret passed away unexpectedly in 2021, with her family confirming that she died of natural causes after an illness.

In the aftermath of her death, local councillor Paul Gallagher, who was also her neighbour, paid tribute to her: "Margaret was well known and did a lot of good, charitable work around the town. People are shocked today."

Margaret's legacy of generosity became widely recognised after her death, and she once shared her views on wealth with the in 2013: "No point having £27m and being lonely. That can't make me happy, that can only make me happy that everybody else's happy and so far everybody is absolutely delighted."

Despite her lottery win, Margaret chose to stay in Strabane and became a local benefactor, reportedly covering funeral costs for a struggling family and funding medical procedures for others, including paying for gastric band operations.

Alongside these acts, Margaret was known for her donations to local charities. Grainne Dunne from Knockavoe School, which serves children with special needs, recalled how Margaret visited and followed up with a significant donation.

Grainne said: "She came to see us a couple of years ago and soon after we received a very substantial donation. She was a modest woman."

Anne Ramsay of New Horizons, a charity supporting adults with intellectual disabilities, also acknowledged receiving a "substantial sum" from Margaret.

Councillor Paul Gallagher paid tribute to the charitable legacy left behind, saying: "Covid has put a mighty strain on charities. She had her troubles but Margaret has helped with the survival of these groups and those benefits will be felt for a long, long time to come."

Her brother Paul voiced his concerns about the size of lottery prizes, stating: "It's time the Government look at the size of jackpots. They need to be capped. A person working in a factory or a call centre like I was can't deal with money like that."

In a previous statement from 2021, the National Lottery's operator Camelot defended their position, asserting: "Camelot takes its duty of care to winners very seriously and all major winners are offered support and advice for as long as they wish."