Irish Lotto Big Winner: Family affair as shared numbers lead to Lotto luck!

The pair from the North East landed the loot on last Wednesday's game with numbers 11, 18, 27 and 44 all falling from the drum, with the dad taking home £45k and the younger man winning £60,750.

Both players also landed a treble (omitting number 18) to top both their winnings up by a further £7,000 each, taking a total family prize fund of almost £120,000.

Wishing to remain anonymous, the younger man said, "We do the same numbers every week and this is the first time we have landed all four numbers.

"They are actually my numbers with some linked to birthdays. Not sure why I do number 44, that’s a random one, but glad I do!

"I am over the moon. It’s fantastic, it really is.

"My dad called at about 8:45pm. We normally call around that time on a Wednesday and Saturday after the results.

"I thought he was joking for the first few seconds but then could tell he wasn’t. I still checked myself afterwards to make sure.

"We play the same numbers so it’s nice to win together. If we did different numbers, we’d be a bit sick if one of us won, so he has played the same numbers as me for a few months now.

"We will continue to play the same numbers – there is the same chance of them coming out again. I remember a few months back the same four numbers came out in two of the draws and I said to Dad ‘Imagine if they were ours and we won twice!’

"We’re a real close family so will celebrate together for sure.

"I set an alarm for myself to put the bets on and send my dad a message to remind him too as a couple of years ago I forgot to place my bets and it was sods law that those three numbers came out! I was sick.

"I moved across to Betfred last year for the increased odds and so glad it worked out.

"I have been saying recently that I think it will come up soon. I usually win with the three numbers about twice a year, but it had been a while between wins recently so felt it was due.

"I haven’t made any plans yet or thought about what to do with the money. I have a couple of ideas, but I’ll keep them to myself for now."