The recent news that one lucky Irish EuroMillions player just won the eye-watering €250 million jackpot has many thinking about what they would do if they were the recipient of the fortune.
The National Lottery has offered some words of wisdom to the newly-minted millionaire, telling them to "stay calm, get independent legal and financial advice, and contact us as soon as they can."
Keeping one's cool after such shocking news is no small task. Take it from Margaret Loughrey of Strabane, Northern Ireland, who clinched £27 million – or $36 million – in the EuroMillions and later claimed the money "destroyed" her life.
Margaret, also known as 'Maggie Millions', faced tragedy eight years after her win when she was found dead – a sad end that DublinLive reports in depth. Her early days were full of cheer, growing up with five siblings.
But her teenage years took a somber turn with the loss of her father, Hughie, remembered by her brother Paul as an exceptional dad. "He was a bricklayer and fell off a roof when he was 47. It was a terrible time. He was a fantastic father. I don't think Margaret got over it and after that she had mental health issues."
Margaret's world turned upside down in November 2013, at age 48. Divorced and fresh from the job centre, she lucked out on a sunny day with a Lucky Dip EuroMillions ticket, while scraping by on a mere £71 a week in her humble two-bedroom bungalow, reports Galway Beo.
She had to double-check her numbers (9, 23, 27, 42 and 44 with Lucky Stars 3 and 5) ten times before it finally hit her that she'd struck gold. After stepping out for some fresh air, she spent five hours pacing her house before dialing Paul to drop the bombshell that she was now £27 million richer.
Paul reminisced: "I was the first one she told. We were tight until the money came into play. But from that day, I knew. I warned the rest of the family that this wouldn't end well for Margaret.
"People have often said to me, 'It must be amazing to win all that money?' But I always respond, be careful what you wish for, because it almost destroyed our entire family. Not just Margaret."
Paul, a father of three, revealed that Margaret struggled to handle her sudden wealth, which resulted in her distancing herself from her four brothers and sister. He described it as "very sad" and noted that his sister "just didn't want to know us anymore."
Despite cutting ties, she still dished out £1 million each to her siblings and closest pals. Paul pondered: "She didn't want us in her life, but still she gave us the money. It doesn't make sense, does it? But she made sure we were all OK."
For Margaret, hitting the EuroMillions jackpot marked the beginning of a downward spiral, leading to her being sectioned only months later.
Two years after hitting the jackpot, she found herself guilty of attacking a taxi driver, resulting in 150 hours of community service. According to the courtroom details, she was downing vodka and got "highly intoxicated after consuming a large amount of alcohol."
Margaret has opened up about the lottery win's adverse effects, divulging that by 2019, her fortune had dwindled to a mere £5 million and she felt targeted by thieves.
In a candid conversation with Sunday Life, she confessed her sorrow: "I will never have peace as long as I live. Even if I didn't have a penny left, I won't. 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."
During an emotional tell-all with Margaret, once an enthusiast for various vehicles like a VW camper van and a Land Rover, she discussed her troubles: "I have had six years of this. 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."
Beyond splurging on swanky automobiles, Margaret invested her lottery winnings into fixing up a rundown site she dubbed 'the barn' and constructing a lavish £1 million residence next to her humble bungalow. However, in the end, despite the new house resembling a fantasy from Grand Designs, she reverted to living in her modest abode at the recommendation of her brother, who figured the opulent home was just too much for her.
Margaret passed away suddenly 2021 with no suspicion surrounding her death. Her death was attributed to natural causes following an illness. In a heartfelt tribute, local councillor and neighbor Paul Gallagher remembered her fondly: "Margaret was well known and did a lot of good, charitable work around the town. People are shocked today."
Following her passing, Margaret's remarkable legacy of generosity came to the forefront. In a poignant interview with the BBC in 2013, she shared her perspective on wealth: "No point having £27m and being lonely. That can't make me happy, that can only make me happy that everybody else's happy and so far everybody is absolutely delighted."
Despite her life-changing jackpot win, Margaret remained rooted in Strabane, using her good fortune to uplift those around her. She reportedly covered funeral expenses for families struggling financially, funded essential medical procedures, including gastric band operations, and donated generously to local charities.
One notable example of her kindness was her visit to Knockavoe School, which caters to children with special needs. Grainne Dunne, a representative from the school, recalled Margaret's kindness: "She came to see us a couple of years ago and soon after we received a very substantial donation. She was a modest woman."
Anne Ramsay from New Horizons, a support provider for adults with intellectual disabilities, gratefully confirmed receiving a "substantial sum" from Margaret's generous donation.
Councillor Paul Gallagher reflected on the role of such charity work, especially during trying times, saying: "Covid has put a mighty strain on charities. She had her troubles but Margaret has helped with the survival of these groups and those benefits will be felt for a long, long time to come."
Margaret’s brother, Paul, raised concerns about the size of lottery jackpots, stating: "It's time the Government look at the size of jackpots. They need to be capped. A person working in a factory or a call centre like I was can't deal with money like that."
In response to his statements back in 2021, the National Lottery's operator said: "Camelot takes its duty of care to winners very seriously and all major winners are offered support and advice for as long as they wish."
For the latest local news and features on Irish America, visit our homepage here.
At Reach and across our entities we and our partners use information collected through cookies and other identifiers from your device to improve experience on our site, analyse how it is used and to show personalised advertising. You can opt out of the sale or sharing of your data, at any time clicking the "Do Not Sell or Share my Data" button at the bottom of the webpage. Please note that your preferences are browser specific. Use of our website and any of our services represents your acceptance of the use of cookies and consent to the practices described in our Privacy Notice and Terms and Conditions.