Woman Who Said Big Lottery Win 'Ruined Her Life' Found Dead At Home
A Northern Irish woman who won around $37 million in 2013, but lamented that the money brought her “nothing but grief,” was found dead in her home, officials confirmed.
"A post-mortem is due to take place but at this stage, the death is not being treated as suspicious," police said, according to The Irish Times.
Margaret Loughrey, 56, became the country’s largest lottery winner after buying a ticket while printing off job application forms at a local shop. At the time, she was jobless and barely getting by on government assistance.
After her historic win, Loughrey struggled with her mental health, and attributed the misery to winning the money.
"Money has brought me nothing but grief. It has destroyed my life. I have had six years of this. I don't believe in religion, but if there is a hell, I have been in it. It has been that bad," she said in 2019.
Loughrey passed away unmarried and with no children, but neighbors remember her as generous and kind.
"I knew her before she won the money, she was quiet, and after she won the money she was still quiet, and she made donations that people will never know about," one neighbor said.
"Margaret wasn't standing out front saying, 'look at me, look how great I am, giving out a cheque.' She just did it, very quietly and behind the scenes," the neighbor added.
It’s not known whether the remainder of her money was willed at the time of her death.