Lottery syndicate scoops €4m

A seven-member lottery syndicate from Monaghan today collected a €4m windfall.

The lucky winners, who do not want to be named, bought a €24 ticket and today turned up at the National Lottery offices in Dublin to collect €4,175,599.

The news comes as lottery staff said a €350,000 prize won in July in Dublin has yet to be claimed.

The latest Lotto winners are said to have been playing since the competition started and bought the winning ticket in Castleshane.

A member of the syndicate said they had been regular winners over the years, but never on this scale.

“I checked the ticket twice and also checked the numbers with other syndicate members just to make sure,” said the Lotto winner.

“I felt very calm but it hasn’t really sunk in yet.”

Plans for the win include a holiday home and paying off mortgages.

Meanwhile lottery officials say a major cash prize remains unclaimed by one Dublin punter.

A Lotto Plus 1 prize worth €350,000 is still waiting to be claimed from the draw of Wednesday July 18 this year.

The ticket was bought in Open Sesame Newsagents in Bawnogue Shopping Centre, Clondalkin.

The last day for claiming the prize is 5.30pm on Tuesday October 16 2007.