Christmas joy for €50K scratchcard winner

Christmas came early for one lucky punter this morning who purchased a winning scratchcard in a Ballinamore newsagents.

The shocked and delighted man scratched his 'All Cash Extravaganza' to reveal he had a ticket worth €50,000. The ticket cost €20.

Thrilled shop owner Philip Murphy takes up the story: "He came back in and asked us to check it and there was another customer in store and they looked at it as well and we all verified it. It was lovely to see."

The man who wishes to remain anonymous is over the moon.

The shop - Murphy's Newsagents on St Brigid's Street - has been serving the local community for the past 69 years and Philip Murphy, the proprietor, is the second generation at the helm.

There is a great buzz in the store and community today following the win.

It's not the first time the shop has had a big winner. "We're known as Lucky Murphys," he quipped.

The store sold a €100,000 Winning Streak scratchcard some years back and has had other big winners too.

The team at Murphy's advised the lucky man to contact National Lottery Headquarters to organise for the collection of his prize.