We’re syn the money

£1million prize shared by 23 charity workers

syndicate were naturally eager for me to check our tickets and see if we were the lucky winners.

“We’ve never won much before so hopes weren’t high when I took my tickets back to the Supervalu store where we’d bought them in the first place.

“As she checked the tickets, the shop assistant told me we’d won £3 on one line, £5.20 on another and then £7.60 on another – which is our usual form.

“Then she stopped and said we were going to have to call the National Lottery about one particular line as she wouldn’t be able to pay that amount over the counter.

“I asked what she meant and all she could tell me was we had won big money.”

Rory said he will never forget the moment he shared the news with his fellow syndicate members.

He added: “I rushed back to work and gathered as many colleagues together as I could to tell them the news.

“Then we all started checking our phones and the internet to see if we could find out how much we’d won. All of a sudden people were saying, ‘I think we’ve won a million’.

“Before we knew it we were all jumping around the place, going mad, shouting and cheering. I think there were even a few tears shed.

“It was an incredible moment I and I’m sure all involved will never forget.”

The syndicate is made up of existing and former staff at the Greater Shantallow Area Partnership, a community support agency operating across the northern part of Derry city.

GSAP works with local residents,