UK lotto bosses set to perform u-turn after fury over Irishman told to travel to UK to collect winnings

Donegal factory worker Kieran Gallagher
-Credit: (Image: No credit)


An Irishman who scooped a win in the UK lottery hopes the lotto bosses will tell him he can collect his winnings in Belfast.

Factory worker Kieran Gallagher, 61, from Donegal, last week told the Irish Mirror that he won £800 (€947) after buying a UK ticket across the border in Tyrone. But he warned other Irish people not to play when the UK bosses said they could not send his winnings to him because he lives in Ireland.

They gave him two years to travel to Britain to collect the cash but Kieran was given hope of collecting his money only 125 kilometres away in Belfast. Kieran, a dad-of-two from border town Lifford, told the Irish Mirror: "Belfast would definitely be better. I'd go up to Belfast no problem.

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The UK lotto people have phoned me. They're due to ring me back. I'd have no trouble going to Belfast. I have a son living in Belfast, so I'd have no bother going to Belfast."

Kieran, who won the £800 (€947) in a UK National Lottery Hot Pick prize on July 13, fears a trip to Britain could wipe out his winnings. Eight weeks later, he is hopeful that a solution is in sight.

The Irish Mirror asked UK national lottery operators Allwyn if Kieran can collect his winnings in Belfast. A spokesperson said: "For prizes up to £500, players can go back into a UK or Isle of Man shop to claim the prize. For any prizes above this, they should contact us."

The spokesperson added on Monday: "My colleague has been in touch with Mr Gallagher directly and has told him that he'll be able to provide him with an update later this week."

Meanwhile, the operators of Ireland's lottery have confirmed to the Irish Mirror that the situation facing Kieran would not apply to its games. A spokesperson said a person who is not resident in Ireland would be able to collect their winnings easily.

She said: "There is no requirement to be a resident of Ireland in order to participate in National Lottery games. National Lottery players are reminded that if they purchase a winning ticket in a shop in the Republic of Ireland, they must claim their prize within 90 days of the applicable draw date, in the Republic of Ireland."

"Prizes between €1 and €100 can be claimed at any National Lottery retailer. Prizes between €1 and €2,500 can be claimed at any An Post Office nationwide. Prizes between €1 and €14,999 can be claimed at An Post Prize Claim Centres. For prizes of €15,000 and above, players should contact the National Lottery Claims Department by calling 1800 666 222 to arrange the processing of their prize in Lottery HQ."

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