Staff at McKeons Love Fresh celebrating the €272,165 EuroMillions win.

Kells Euromillions prize eventually claimed - ticket was left in briefcase

Members of a delighted Dublin family syndicate are today counting their blessings after they finally claimed a €272,165 EuroMillions prize which they had won on Tuesday 5th March. The lucky family claimed the prize just days before the 90 day deadline which was looming on Tuesday 4th June.

The head of the syndicate admitted his bad habit of not checking his lottery tickets almost cost his family the €272,165 EuroMillions fortune.

“I suppose this really hammers home how you need to check your tickets as often as possible,” joked the relieved Dubliner.

He added: “You always hear after each and every draw that players are urged to check their tickets and it’s certainly a habit I’ll be picking up in future! It was only late last week when I opened up an old briefcase and there was a couple of old lottery tickets which I put aside to check, only as a matter of curiosity. I handed four tickets into my local shop keeper and gave me the nod as he handed one back to me – he whispered – ‘contact the National Lottery’.
 
The winning Quick Pick ticket was purchased at McKeons Love Fresh store in Kells and locals in the town were put on high alert on the unclaimed prize following a National Lottery prize claim deadline media campaign.
 
“I think the National Lottery were glad to hear from me once I confirmed the winning numbers on the ticket! I am incredibly relieved, knowing now that I had such a valuable ticket stuffed into an old briefcase for almost three months. We really haven’t got our head around the win as of yet so we’re going to enjoy the bank holiday weekend celebrations before we make any plans for the money,” added the Dublin syndicate member.