A Dublin man has claimed in the High Court that he is entitled to half of a prize of €300,000 won by a female colleague in a Lotto Plus Draw.
Brian Malone, a postal worker from Kilkieran, Cabra, Dublin, claims he has a half share in the winning ticket with his colleague at Dunboyne sorting office, Mary Donoghue, Drumree, Co Meath.
In an affidavit, Mr Malone said Ms Donoghue had on March 18th 2005 collected the winnings from the Lotto Plus Draw held on March 16th, 2005.
The winnings were valued at €300,000 and Mr Malone claimed he was entitled to 50 per cent.
He said he and Ms Donoghue had an agreement since April 2002 to play the National Lottery twice a week on the basis that they would divide any winnings 50/50.
They each selected three numbers for insertion on the first panel of six numbers and these were the same for every draw. The numbers for the second panel were selected randomly by the Quick Pick.
Ms Donoghue had told him on March 20th that she had won €300,000 in the Lotto Plus 1 Jackpot on a "Quick Pick ticket" . He became concerned as to why she had differentiated the type of ticket. On March 21st, he told her that they would have to talk about his entitlement to the winnings. Ms Donoghue expressed surprise that he had asked her at all saying that she felt sick and would talk to him the next morning.
On March 22nd, he asked her again about his winnings and she replied that she couldn't believe that he was asking her that. He suggested she would surely ask the same of him and she replied: "No I f....... wouldn't."
Ms Donoghue would not speak to him over the next two days and he decided to seek legal advice the next day.
Mr Justice Kelly was told a defence in the case had not been filed. Counsel for Ms Donoghue gave an undertaking that his client would retain €150,000 of the winnings to the credit of the legal proceedings until such time as the case was dealt with.