Big lottery win, but no flight upgrade

AUCKLAND: A couple from Northern Ireland have won the ultimate New Year’s Day lottery, a prize of more than $NZ217 million — but they have declined to upgrade their daughter’s flight home from New Zealand.

Frances and Patrick Connolly, who live in Moira, Northern Ireland, became the fourth biggest UK EuroMillions winners when they matched their winning numbers to scoop the $217 million draw.

The parents of three daughters have written a list of 50 family and friends to share their money with — most of whom are still unaware of their jackpot prize.

But one of the couple’s twin daughters, who is doing her master’s degree in New Zealand, will not be flying first class on her return trip back home.

The Connollys said instead of firstclass flights, their 24yearold daugh ter could have her hostel upgraded to a hotel near the airport.

Speaking to media, the couple said they did not plan to keep the money.

‘‘This is a massive sum of money and we want it to have a huge impact on the lives of other people we know and love as well as on our future, too,’’ Mrs Connolly said.

‘‘This win gives us the chance to really make a difference for our family and friends.

‘‘The only thing I ever won was a ‘guess the number of sweets in the jar’,’’ she said.

The couple said they sat in silence after they had realised they won, struggling to take it in.

‘‘We really didn’t know what to do or how to react and we didn’t sleep a wink that night. We rang Camelot at 8am in the morning to verify the win,’’ Mrs Connolly said.

‘‘Then it started to dawn on us that it was true even though it still hasn’t really sunk in.’’

When asked what they planned to spend the rest of the money on, Mr Connolly said ‘‘for the minute I’m retired, I need to digest this, but it won’t last long, I need to be doing something’’.

Mrs Connolly, who worked for an online magazine for the voluntary sector, said she had ‘‘wanted to do my PhD in clinical psychology and I can afford to do it now’’.

She said their ticket was a lucky dip and insisted the win would not change them as people.

Deciding how far to spread their good fortune could prove tough, Mrs Connolly said.

‘‘I’m going to cry myself to sleep that I can’t help everybody. That will be really tough,’’ she said. — NZME