A LOTTO fortune of €8.2
million has still not been claimed – losing out on
potential earnings of almost €2,500 a WEEK in
interest for the mystery winner.
The whopping prize was won on Saturday, March 5
last, after the lucky ticket was purchased in the XL
Stop and Shop on Stephen Street, Sligo.
And while a ticket-holder has come forward, the
money still remains unclaimed 66 days after the
winning draw.
The huge prize-money could be earning the equivalent
of about €340 a day – or some people’s weekly wage –
at an annual interest rate of 1.5%.
The mystery winner has already lost out on potential
interest earnings of over €22,000.
Meanwhile, the winner or winners have 90 days to
claim the prize - leaving just 24 days left for the
huge cheque to be drawn down.
The National Lottery declined to comment on the
specifics of the case "to protect both the privacy
of the claimant and the security of The National
Lottery’s claims process".
It also declined to say whether the delay was due to
a dispute within a syndicate or a family or whether
any legal proceedings have been initiated.
Other speculation for the long delay, meanwhile,
could be a damaged ticket.
"The National Lottery is continuing to engage with
the ticket holder," said a spokesperson yesterday,
adding that "any claimant has 90 days in which to
claim their prize".
The National Lottery has specific guidelines to help
players manage a syndicate and its winnings.
Tips include the drawing up of a prior syndicate
agreement to help avoid disputes in the event of a
win.
Meanwhile, all members of a syndicate must sign the
back of a winning ticket. And as only one cheque is
issued, the group must nominate the person whose
name will go on it. Winners must also present photo
ID when collecting prizes at Lotto HQ.
The biggest Lotto jackpot to date was won by a
16-member work syndicate in Carlow who shared almost
€19 million almost eight years ago. |
