Family checked EuroMillions lottery ticket just days from losing €272 million win
Damien Duffy (center) , manager of McKeons Love Fresh store with staff.
With just days to go before the 90 day claim date, a Dublin lottery syndicate owner only remembered about the tickets when he opened an old briefcase.
At stake was a giant €272,165 million (US$304.3M) win he knew nothing about.
The lucky family member claimed the prize just days before the 90 day deadline which was looming tomorrow, Tuesday 4th June, which they had won on Tuesday March 5th.
The winning Quick Pick ticket was bought at McKeons Love Fresh store in Kells, Co. Meath, Dublin. PHOTO: Google Maps
He said: "It was only late last week when I opened up an old briefcase and there was a couple of old lottery tickets which I put aside to check, only as a matter of curiosity, reported FM104.
When he handed the tickets to Damien Duffy, the local store manager, the €272,165 million win confirmation was very low key.
"I handed four tickets into my local shopkeeper and gave me the nod as he handed one back to me – he whispered – 'contact the National Lottery’.
“I suppose this really hammers home how you need to check your tickets as often as possible,” joked the relieved Dubliner.
An Irish EuroMillions quick pick ticket. FILE PHOTO
He added: "You always hear after each and every draw that players are urged to check their tickets and it’s certainly a habit I’ll be picking up in future!”
“I think the National Lottery were glad to hear from me once I confirmed the winning numbers on the ticket! I am incredibly relieved, knowing now that I had such a valuable ticket stuffed into an old briefcase for almost three months.
Staff at McKeons Love Fresh Store where the winning ticket was sold.
"We really haven’t got our head around the win as of yet so we’re going to enjoy the bank holiday weekend celebrations before we make any plans for the money,” added the Dublin syndicate member.
The winning EuroMillions numbers for the draw on Tuesday 5th March were: 6, 10, 16, 39, 46 and the Lucky Stars were 8 and 11.