The National Lottery is retaining more than £315,000 from the winning £1.5 million jackpot of January 6th, pending the outcome of a High Court action taken by a man who claims he is the beneficial owner of a one-fifth share.
The money is to be placed on deposit and will be paid along with any interest that accrues once the ownership issue has been resolved, according to the National Lottery.
A syndicate of four card-playing friends from Ballyvary, Co Mayo called to the Lottery offices yesterday to collect 80 per cent of the January 6th jackpot and received a cheque for £1,262,142. At first it was thought that the four, Ballyvary publican Mr Frank O'Reilly, taxi drivers Mr Seamus O'Brien and Mr John Joyce, and farmer Mr Michael McHale would not be allowed to collect the winning cheque, pending the outcome of the court hearing.
Mr Martin Horan from Bohola, who is claiming 20 per cent of the jackpot, is involved in a garage/plant hire business which operates from Ballyhaunis Road, Knock, and was in Spain on the weekend before last when news of the big win broke.
As soon as he returned from Spain Mr Horan initiated legal action.
It is understood that Mr Horan used to play cards on Monday nights with a group in O'Reilly's pub and that afterwards they would chip in money for Quickpick draws later in the week.
The winning four have promised to "look after" Mr Horan. But he is understood to be dissatisfied with this and feels he is entitled to a full one-fifth share.
For legal reasons, members of the winning syndicate were reluctant yesterday to discuss the difficulty. They have all been served with legal documents by Mr Horan's solicitors.
However, one did say that while they were disappointed with the turn of events, they did hope that an amicable compromise could be reached.
Lotto Jackpot winners have 90 days to collect their cheques.