Northern Ireland

Co Tyrone Euromillions winner says jackpot has 'destroyed' her life

Euromillions winner Margaret Loughrey says she has only £5m left of her £27m jackpot. Picture by Hugh Russell.
Euromillions winner Margaret Loughrey says she has only £5m left of her £27m jackpot. Picture by Hugh Russell.

CO Tyrone Euromillions winner, Margaret Loughrey has said she regrets winning the lottery and it has "destroyed" her life.

The Strabane woman scooped £27 million when her numbers came up in 2013, but claims she now only has £5m left after being the victim of numerous thefts.

The 54-year-old said the lottery win has brought her "nothing, but grief".

"I have had six years of this and 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," she said.

"I won £27m. I have just over £5m left, but a lot of that I gave to people.

"I will never have peace as long as I live. Even if I didn't have a penny left, I won't," she told the Sunday Life.

"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, " the lottery winner added.

Just last week it was reported Ms Loughrey has been ordered by an Employment Tribunal to pay £30,000 compensation to dismissed former staff member, Paddy Breslin.

They ruled that Mr Breslin was discriminated against on the grounds of his religion and sex. The Strabane woman has vowed to appeal the decision.

Earlier this month Co Armagh husband and wife Frances and Patrick Connolly won a £115m Euromillions jackpot.

The couple plan to share their good fortune with loved ones and have drawn up a list of list of 50 family and friends set to benefit from their lottery wealth.