Office newbie gets lucky with Lotto win

Ireland’s latest Lotto winners may consider themselves lucky, but one member knows she is luckier than most.

Maria Doherty from Clonmany in Co Donegal was one of 13 members of a syndicate who scooped a cool €4,871,046 on the Lotto on Wednesday night.

But Maria, 21, has revealed how she only started work at the office which picked the winning numbers just three days ago.

And even luckier is the fact that she had only joined the Lotto syndicate of Forward Emphasis International in Malin Head just hours before their numbers came up.

A delighted Maria said she is undoubtedly the luckiest girl in Ireland and revealed how she only put in the €2 entry fee to the syndicate because she had some change in her pocket.

Maria, who scooped exactly €374,695.84, only joined the company on Monday.

Maria Doherty, 21, only started work in the firm three days ago and only joined the syndicate hours before the draw. 

A beaming Maria revealed: “I just can’t believe it; I only started the job on Monday and didn’t expect my first pay cheque until next month. But, I’m getting paid after just three days work, and I’m getting an amount I’d have to work for 25 years to get,” she laughed.

Maria also admitted that if she hadn’t the correct €2 change to enter, she probably wouldn’t have bothered, as she never regularly does the Lotto or scratch-card quick-picks.

“I’m struggling to take it all in. It’s a life-changing amount of money.”

Fellow winner, James Bradley, who is a well-known soccer player with Cockhill Celtic, was also part of the syndicate and he was absolutely over the moon.

Sports fan, James said his thoughts were now turning to the All-Ireland and he firmly believes that Donegal’s luck is in for their big game at Croke Park against Kerry on Sunday.

Another one of the lucky 13 was Anne-Marie McFadden. She revealed that the syndicate are already discussing holiday plans but have to make sure there is enough cover at work.

The 13 lucky Lotto winners are James Bradley, Liam Bradley, Linda McKinley, Anna McKinney, Patricia Quigley, Marion McCauley, Helen Doherty, Maria Doherty, Anne-Marie Jordan, Amanda McFadden, Marie McLaughlin, Kelly McMonagle and Claire McElhinney.