Major Christmas present for Irish woman

28-year-old Northern Irish woman Stephanie Harkin has won GBP 100,000 on a scratch card bought whilst shopping for presents for a school festive season celebration.

The Northern Irish woman told reporters this week that her she struck it rich just before Christmas.

Describing the circumstances that brought her such good fortune, Stephanie told local reporters in Drumahoe, County Derry:

“My two young sons had to bring a present to school the next day to place under the Christmas tree for St Vincent de Paul, so we all went along with my mum to Tesco on Lisnagelvin Road to buy the presents.

“While we were there, I bought myself a Diamond Riches Scratchcard which I scratched in the foyer as we were waiting for my mum to finish up her shopping.

“Once I saw the three diamonds, I knew that I had won a large amount as I’d played this card before, but I didn’t want to get too excited.

“I checked the amounts on the card and when my mum returned, I kept telling her quietly that I’d won a hundred grand. I kept my voice down as I didn’t want to make a scene but I was completely shaking all over and couldn’t even remember the pin number to unlock my phone and call my husband.

“The girl behind the counter looked at my card and got visibly excited before telling me that she couldn’t pay me over the counter as I’d won £100k.”

After calming herself, Stephanie drove home to break the good news to her husband Kieran, a self-employed mechanic.

The win enables the young mother and her family to enjoy a wish list that includes a visit to Disneyland Paris, and a sunny holiday in Benidorm.