Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)

Lucky spray for Robert as he wins £300k

- BY ORLAITH CLINTON

THERE is nothing in the document about when families from different households might be able to spend time at one another’s houses. People can sit in the park with one person from another other household as long as they stay two metres apart. No 10 confirmed you can’t sit on your mum’s driveway, even if you’re two metres away.

There’s still no decision on the “social bubble” proposal that would allow two households to mix. Up to two million vulnerable people face being shut inside beyond June. The roadmap warns a 12-week period is likely to be extended. It says over-70s should continue to minimise contact outside their households, but lockdown will be eased for them just like most other people.

FOOTBALL matches with large crowds are out for the foreseeabl­e future. From June at the earliest, sporting and cultural events can run behind closed doors. The Premier League and EFL, Formula 1 and national events like Crufts will return. People cannot play football, but tennis, golf and running are OK with somebody outside your household, at a two-metre distance. Tennis courts and golf courses and will reopen this week, but not club houses. Personal trainers can hold one-on-one sessions.

PEOPLE who can’t work from home are “actively encouraged” go back to work from tomorrow, where social distancing is possible. Staggered shifts and protective screens are suggested to keep employees safe. Unions say too little is being done to protect staff. Those who can work from home should do so.

Sectors encouraged to reopen include garden centres, food production, constructi­on, manufactur­ing, logistics and distributi­on. Non-essential retail will open from June 1. Workers are advised to avoid public transport if possible. The PM said parents shouldn’t be expected to go to work if their children can’t yet go back to school.

A FURLOUGHED kitchen paint sprayer is celebratin­g a change of fortune this week after winning £300,000 on a scratchcar­d.

Robert Fullerton, from Castledaws­on, Co Derry, bought the £3 ticket at his local Vivoxtra store while shopping last Monday.

And later the same evening he discovered he’d struck it rich.

The news comes as a boost for Robert and wife Susan who were both recently furloughed as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The 30-year-old said: “I was out doing an essential grocery shop and had a scratchcar­d in my pocket with a £3 win on it.

“So while I was paying for the groceries, I exchanged it for another similar National Lottery Scratchcar­d, and bought an extra one for good measure.

“I didn’t win anything on the first scratchcar­d and gave it to

Susan to check, while I was scratching the second card and half-way through, it was already showing that I’d won £300,000 and I started physically shaking.

“I was thinking to myself, ‘That’s not right’ and had to get up and go outside for some fresh air.

“I showed the scratchcar­d to Susan and took a photo that I sent to my mum and sister – both of whom agreed that I wasn’t seeing things and that, as far as they could see,

I’d won three hundred grand.”

Despite his win, Robert hopes to get back to work soon, saying he loves his job and the “banter” with his workmates.

He said: “The biggest thing we’ll do with our winnings is buy a new house.

“As a keen darts player, it’ll definitely have a ‘man cave’ with a dart board and a big TV.

“Also, we know it might be some time away, but when people are able to travel again, we’ll go on a holiday to Benidorm.”

 ??  ?? TOUGH TIMES Families can still not visit each other
JACKPOT Robert Fullerton
TOUGH TIMES Families can still not visit each other JACKPOT Robert Fullerton

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