Hi °C | Lo °C A retired post office worker and his ex-wife each won €250,000 in the Irish lottery -- after doing the same numbers, it emerged last night.
And Pat O'Hagan and ex-partner Margaret Doherty even travelled on the same bus to Dublin yesterday to collect their cheques.
The couple had been doing the same numbers on the Republic's national lottery since 1988 -- and continued to do them separately after they split.
The couple travelled home again to Letterkenny on the Bus Eireann service to the town from Dublin last night.
Shy Margaret, a retired domestic worker at Letterkenny General Hospital, had bought her €12 ticket at the Paper Post newsagent's in the town on Saturday.
Pat bought his €4 ticket on the same day at Mac's Mace in Letterkenny just half a mile away.
And last Saturday night their numbers matched the Lotto Plus 2 draw -- which guarantees every winner €250,000. Mr O'Hagan didn't want to discuss the incredible coincidence yesterday, but did reveal how he plans to spend his winnings.
"I've been playing these numbers since Lotto started in 1988," he said after collecting his cheque at the National Lottery HQ.
"I won over €1,000 in the mid-eighties but haven't won anything since. I'm really looking forward to taking a holiday in Florence in Italy soon, to see the statue of David because I'm interested in art and sculpture.
"I'm also going to visit my older brother in New Mexico later on," he added.
Friends say the pair have remained on good terms since their split a number of years ago.
"They realised on Sunday when they heard there were two winners in Letterkenny that they had both continued to do the same lotto numbers," said one friend.
"They had no bother getting the same bus up to Dublin to collect their winnings," she added.
Eunan MacIntyre, who sold Mr O'Hagan his winning ticket, said: "We're delighted for both winners. It's a lovely win and it's great to see some good news." Tomorrow night's Lotto jackpot is heading for €6m.
