We’re in the MONEY!
CITY COUPLE THRILLED WITH BIG WIN AND FIRST ON LIST OF THINGS TO DO IS HELP INJURED NEPHEW, MESSIAH
CATHERINETTE and William Mullarkey danced for joy when they realised they’d won £1 million on the lottery – but thoughts quickly turned to how they could help an injured relative.
The Coventry couple plan to use some of the money to help Catherinette’s nephew, Messiah Philip, who was paralysed from the waist down in a road accident.
The Mullarkeys discovered their win in the National Lottery’s EuroMillions Millionaire Maker prize draw when they returned from a holiday in Catherinette’s native St Lucia.
At first they thought an email with news of the win was an advert but their granddaughter Celia encouraged them to read it and ring the National Lottery to check.
William, 57, known as Bill, said: “We couldn’t believe it when we saw a message come up to say congratulations you’re a winner! And we couldn’t take in the figure that came up on the screen.
“We weren’t sure if it was £10,000 or £100,000 at first.
“When I called the National Lottery hotline on Wednesday to confirm the win there was a long silence and finally I was told I had won a million pounds.
“At that moment there was such excitement in the house and lots of screaming.
“We celebrated with a nice cup of tea and I didn’t sleep all night, it just wouldn’t sink in.”
The first priority for the pair is help Messiah, paralysed from the waist down in a horrific bike accident near his home in St Lucia two months ago.
They will be paying for changes to his home and possibly an adapted car to make his every day life easier.
Clearing their mortgage and other loans to be debt free is also on the list – and presents for family and friends are there too.
They are giving up work temporarily while they get to grips with their new reality.
In the future they plan to build a house in St Lucia. They will divide their time between their new house and their Coventry home.
Bill said: “You buy a lottery ticket and you dream what it would be like to win but for this to happen to us is just completely mind blowing. I have to keep pinching myself.”
Bill grew up in Stoke, Coventry. He was a pupil at Cardinal Wiseman School before training as a chef at Henley College.
Catherinette, 56, known as Cath, grew up in St Lucia. The pair met when they were both working at a hotel on the island.