Euromillions winner dies after scooping £23m jackpot on a lucky dip

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A Euromillions winner has died eight years after pocketing a massive £23million jackpot.

Margaret Loughrey is believed to have lived alone in the Ballycolman area of Strabane, Northern Ireland before passing away.

Police said her death is not currently being treated as "suspicious" but a post mortem will be carried out to determine the cause.

Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said they were called to a home in the area on Thursday morning, Belfast Live reports.

A NIAS spokesman said: "We were called to an emergency in the Ballycolman area of Strabane at 10.30am this morning. No patients were taken from the scene."

A PSNI spokesperson added: "Police received a report of the sudden death of a woman at the Ballycolman Lane area of Strabane on Thursday 2nd September.

"A post mortem is due to take place but at this stage, the death is not being treated as suspicious."

SDLP councillor for the area, Jason Barr, said: "My thoughts and prayers are with the Loughrey family and they're with friends of Margaret as well. It's a very sad day.

"Margaret would have been well thought of… she has had her ups and downs in life like all of us but hopefully she's at rest now."

Ms Loughrey hit the headlines in December 2013 when she landed five winning numbers and two stars after purchasing a lucky dip ticket in a spur of the moment decision.

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After hitting the jackpot Ms Loughrey said: “I don't feel like I've won the lottery, I feel like everyone has won it because this is going to change so many lives.”

Following her massive windfall Ms Loughrey purchased a string of properties including houses, a pub and most famously Herdman's Mill in Sion Mills.

But the past eight years have also been marred by court appearances and legal difficulties.

In August 2015 Ms Loughrey was ordered to do 150 hours community service after being convicted of assaulting a taxi driver.

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And last year she was told to pay an ex-employee £30,000 following a claim for unfair dismissal.

Patrick Breslin brought the case against the lottery winner, alleging that she mocked him because of his devotion to the Catholic Church. Mr Breslin said he was sent a photograph of a Virgin Mary statue with a cigarette in its arms and a glass of whiskey in front of it.

He was also sent a photo of a teddy bear lying on top of the Virgin Mary, accompanied by a text message saying, “The puppet you worship is no longer a virgin”.

An appeal brought by Ms Loughrey against the tribunal's findings was thrown out and she was ordered to compensate her former employee in full.

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