1996/99
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Identity of Geesala Lotto millionaire still a mystery
13 May 1998
By Tom Gillespie
The identity of Ireland's latest millionaire still remained a mystery last night.
The bachelor who scooped the £1.8m on Saturday night purchased his ticket at Munnelly's of Geesala. It was a £1 Quickpick.
He collected his cheque from National Lottery headquarters on Monday but vowed to maintain his anonymity.
He aims to spend the money on his family and a holiday abroad.
He said on Monday; "I can't believe that this has happened to me. I have been playing Lotto for years and have had small wins - but nothing like this."
He explained that he heard the 'commotion about the winning ticket' being bought in the area after Sunday Mass.
He added: "I immediately checked the numbers in the Sunday paper and there it was, my ticket."
However as speculation grew in the half-parish yesterday as to who the winner was Mayo Dail Deputy Enda Kenny took National Lottery officials to task for giving out pieces of information which could pinpoint who the winner was.
Such a move, he said, could endanger the lives of jackpot winners, as they could be targeted by thugs and robbers.
Deputy Kenny said: "When you buy a lottery ticket you do so on the basis that you can remain anonymous if you wish.
"There were only one hundred tickets sold in Geelasa and yet the National Lottery come along and announce that the winner is male and single.
"These are broad hints and you do not have to be a Sherlock Holmes to deduce who the winner is.
"While this is good propaganda for the National Lottery it can have very serious consequences for the elderly. You just have to look at the Charlestown case where an elderly man was tied up and left to die in what was a suspected robbery.
"This latest winner could have been an 80-year old person who won the £1.8m who could be a target for thugs and robbers.
"If a person wants to gave a big party that is fine but if they want to remain anonymous, then they should remain so.
"The National Lottery are sailing very close to the wind. Their actions are very highly questionable in this regard."
