Man who took on the Lotto and won reveals what he'd do with £208,000,000 jackpot
Paddy Kehoe is still recognised on the streets as the man who changed the way Ireland's lottery system is run.
In 1992, the now 78-year-old formed a group with mathematician Stefan Klincewicz to win the £1 million euro jackpot.
But this jackpot, which saw a fellow Irish citizen claim £208 million, he forgot to buy one.
Sitting across from me in an upscale Dublin hotel, Paddy said: 'I don't do the Irish lotto anymore, it's not as exciting anymore.'
The year Paddy won, there were only 36 numbers in the draw, making it possible to buy every single combination and make a decent profit after.
It was a flaw in the system, but it a flaw ready to be exploited by anyone who was brave enough to do it first.
But Paddy, who is well-known in the world of horse-racing, is still bitter about how the plan unfolded.
He explained to Metro: 'We came to the conclusion that we can cover every possible combination for less than one million euros, but we didn't get what was owed to us.'
Unsurprisingly the group won the jackpot, but it was announced the jackpot would be shared with two others who had also bought a winning ticket, reducing the syndicate's share to £568,682.
In the end, Paddy's profit sat at a modest £40,000 which he said 'is nothing in the world of gambling'.
He said: 'That wouldn't even get you a deposit on a house these days. I still have my suspicions that there was not a third winner.'
Paddy lost most of his lottery winnings in the 2008 financial crash, and continues to lose money 'every time Trump opens his mouth'.
And if he won the full jackpot today? It would go back into investments and gambling.
Scowling, he said: 'If I were to win that money, I would try and get my stock values back up to where they were, but Trump is the worst person to have ever been born. He just makes my shares plummet.'
Paddy is now urging the winner of this week's £208 million to claim the money as soon as they possibly can.
'I nearly took the National Lottery to court after they wouldn't hand over the money quick enough,' he said.
'They need to get on it and get it in their accounts. You never know what's going to happen, your house could burn down tomorrow so they need to sort it.'
Although Kehoe's plan didn't play out the way he wanted to, it changed the way to lottery was ran after he eventually collected his money.
In the fall out the numbers in the draw were quickly raised and today sits at 47. More Trending
No one can possible replicate his scheme now after the jackpot was capped at 19 millions euros as well, but a film called Beat the Lotto is being released on the group's plan.
He said: 'My young nieces and nephews ask me about my Lotto winnings, and I still get people recognise me.
Since his lotto wins and his financial highs and lows, Paddy still works in his suspended ceilings business which he started up 50 years ago.
'I should have given up a long time ago,' he said. 'But it's good to keep busy.'
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
MORE: Biker dad will retire and buy wife a hot tub after £3,900,000 Lottery win
MORE: EuroMillions players urged to check tickets with £208,000,000 jackpot unclaimed
MORE: Scaffolder wins £11,500,000 million from a £1.50 bet
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
41 minutes ago
- BBC News
US joining Israeli strikes would cause hell, Iranian minister tells BBC
The US joining Israeli strikes would cause "hell for the whole region", Iran's deputy foreign minister has told the Khatibzadeh said this is "not America's war" and if US President Donald Trump does get involved, he will always be remembered as "a president who entered a war he doesn't belong in".He said US involvement would turn the conflict into a "quagmire", continue aggression and delay an end to the "brutal atrocities". His comments came after the Soroka hospital in southern Israel was hit during an Iranian missile attack. Iranian state media reported that the strike targeted a military site next to the hospital, and not the facility itself. Israel's Ministry of Health said 71 people were injured during the attack on the Soroka Medical Centre. Meanwhile, Israel's military said it had targeted Iran's nuclear sites including the "inactive" Arak heavy water reactor and Natanz has not given an update on casualties in Iran from Israeli latest attacks come at a critical time. On Thursday, the White House said Trump would decide whether or not the US gets directly involved in the conflict within the next two to the BBC, Khatibzadeh insisted that "of course, diplomacy is the first option", but said but while bombardment continues "we cannot start any negotiation".He repeatedly called Iran's attacks on Israel "self defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter" and said "we were in the middle of diplomacy" when in a major escalation of the conflict on 13 June, Israel launched attacks on Iranian nuclear sites, killing several top generals and nuclear deputy foreign minister called the conflict "unprovoked" and "unnecessary". Responding to Trump's repeated comments that the conflict could have been avoided if Iran had accepted a nuclear deal, Khatibzadeh said they were negotiating until Israel "sabotaged" discussions by launching attacks Iran. "We were planning to have the sixth round of nuclear talks in Muscat, and we were actually on the verge of reaching an agreement," he said. "President Trump knows better than anybody else that we were on the verge of reaching an agreement." He also criticised Trump's "confusing and contradictory" social media posts and interviews, which he said indicated "that Americans have been aware and have participated" in the conflict. US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi have reportedly spoken on the phone several times since Friday, in a bid to find a diplomatic end to the crisis, Reuters reported. According to three diplomats who spoke to the news agency and asked not to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter, Araqchi said Tehran would not return to negotiations unless Israel stopped the attacks. Israel has alleged Iran has recently "taken steps to weaponise" its enriched uranium stockpile, which can be used for power plants or nuclear bombs. Iran has always claimed that its nuclear programme is entirely Friday, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) - the UN's nuclear watchdog - said Iran had amassed enough uranium enriched up to 60% purity - a short technical step away from weapons grade, or 90% - to potentially make nuclear bombs."This is nonsense," Khatibzadeh said in response. "You cannot start a war based on speculation or intention."If we wanted to have a nuclear bomb, we would have had it way before."Iran has never developed any programme for nuclear weaponisation of peaceful nuclear activities. Bottom line." IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said that nuclear facilities "must never be attacked, regardless of the context or circumstances, as it could harm both people and the environment". Khatibzadeh also discussed potential diplomatic channels after a G7 summit in Canada. He said: "What we are hearing from Europeans is that they would like to get back to diplomacy at a ministerial level"."They are going to have a meeting in Geneva and we are very much happy that finally they have to come and talk at the table about the issues at hand."
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Dubya Dubya II: Democrats see echoes of Bush Iraq War push in Trump's Iran nukes rhetoric
While Republicans largely fall in line behind President Donald Trump as he disregards experts and prepares for the United States to take on a larger role in Israel's war with Iran, using the pretense of nuclear weapons being built, Democrats are seeing flashbacks of the Iraq War. On Thursday, the White House said that the president would make his decision on whether to strike Iran in the next two weeks. This comes as the president has directly contradicted Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard on whether Iran is actively building a nuclear weapon. That raised alarms for Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. 'If this president wants to completely ignore the intelligence community, we are playing in dangerous ground, and this is exactly the way we got ourselves into Iraq,' he told The Independent on Thursday. The parallels are quite stark. In 2002, in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, President George W. Bush insisted that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. At the time, the Bush administration maintained that Iraq posed an existential threat, with Secretary of State Colin Powell making the case in a presentation before the United Nations. After the United States invaded Iraq, it found little evidence of any weapons of mass destruction. Now, Warner's Democratic colleague from Virginia, Sen. Tim Kaine, has introduced a war powers resolution that would trigger debate and a vote for any military action against Iran. 'No one in Congress should on a matter of war, just say, let the President do what they want,' he told The Independent. 'The president can engage in self defense without an authorization, but the notion that we're being asked to join a bombing campaign in Iran is clearly offensive. I think it was. It's a horrible idea, but if my colleagues think it's a good idea, I think they should introduce war authorization.' Only six senators who voted against the Iraq War — either as members of the House of Representatives or as senators — remain in the Senate. 'We've discovered, particularly Middle East, it's easier to break things hard to put them together,' said Sen. Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee. 'So, and we've seen operations like the invasion of Iraq under George W. Bush, which for the first few weeks looked like it was brilliant. Nothing happened. And four years later, we were wondering, what are we doing here and how do we get out?' By contrast, 14 senators in either capacity voted for the Iraq War. Senate Majority Leader John Thune voted for it as a member of the House and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, then in his first term in the Senate, voted for it. In addition, Schumer is considered a hawk on Israel and Iran, having opposed the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the agreement brokered by the Obama administration and US allies to curb Iran's nuclear ambitions. The number of senators who remember the mistakes of Iraq continues to dwindle. Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the Senate minority whip who voted against it, is retiring at the end of next year. Sen. Adam Schiff of California, a veteran congressman who became a senator last year, voted for the war as a member of the House. One of the opponents of the Iraq war who remains is Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, who sits on the Senate Intelligence Committee. Wyden voted against Gabbard's confirmation, but still criticized Trump. 'This wouldn't be the first time where Donald Trump has done an about face on foreign policy,' Wyden told The Independent. Sen. Bernie Sanders, the independent from Vermont who voted against the war as a congressman, who had his own resolution, joined onto Kaine's resolution. But even Democrats who came to Congress afterward, particularly those shaped by the War on Terror, want to rein in the president. Sen. Elissa Slotkin, a freshman from Michigan, joined the CIA after the September 11 attacks partly because she lived in New York on the day of the attack. Slotkin led a war powers resolution after Trump launched a strike that killed top Iranian military official Qasem Soleimani. She said she is looking at Kaine's language. 'I think Congress, ever since the Iraq War, has been scared to exercise their oversight role in war and Democrats and Republicans,' she told The Independent. 'So I've been pretty consistent that we need to get back to that.' By contrast, so far, few Republicans save for Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky have raised reservations about war with Iran. Paul's father, former congressman Ron Paul, voted against the War in Iraq. Below is a list of Senators who voted for and against the War in Iraq who remain in Congress. Yes as Senators: Yes in the House: Adam Schiff (D-CA) John Boozman (R-AR) Lindsey Graham (R-SC) John Thune (R-SD) Roger Wicker (R-MS) Jerry Moran (R-KS) Ed Markey (D-MA) Shelly Capito (R-WV) Senators who voted No: Dick Durbin (D-IL) Patty Murray (D-WA) Jack Reed (D-RI) Ron Wyden (D-OR) Democrats who voted No as House members: Bernie Sanders (I-VT) Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Israel's President calls out Starmer for ‘sitting on fence' and says Europe is next in line for Mullahs' missiles
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ISRAEL's president last night accused Britain of 'sitting on the fence' as his nation fights for its life against Iran. Embattled Isaac Herzog said it was Sir Keir Starmer's government's moral duty to support his strife-torn country's war on terror. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Sir Keir Starmer's government has been accused of 'sitting on the fence' Credit: EPA 5 Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khameini Credit: Getty 5 Destruction in Israel after Iranian missile strikes Credit: AP And he told The Sun that Iran's missiles of mass destruction could one day be trained on the UK. In an exclusive interview at the presidential palace in Jerusalem, he said: 'There are things Britain cannot turn a blind eye to. It's obvious. 'And I think the British leadership should not only look at demonstrations or comments. We have to show them clear moral clarity. 'We are fighting the war that will protect Britain in the foreseeable future.' READ MORE ON ISRAEL CONFLICT DON'S WARNING Trump gives final deadline to Iran before launching attack Mr Herzog, a moderate political figure on the left of Israeli politics, added: 'You ask yourself, why would Iran have missiles reaching London? "Why? If London is not an enemy, then why? That is the question that needs to be asked.' He spoke out as Donald Trump, who has moved battleships and aircraft towards the Middle East warzone, last night appeared to give Iran a fortnight to agree to axe its nuclear programme. The Israel-backing US President, who yesterday signed off on a plan believed to involve ordering B-2 stealth bombers to wipe out Iran's surviving nuclear plant, said: 'I will make my decision whether or not to 'go' within the next two weeks.' Mr Trump, who has demanded Iran's immediate 'unconditional surrender' said he based his decision on the fact there was a 'substantial chance of negotiations' with Iran in the near future. President Herzog, 64, hit out as Keir Starmer's Labour government continued to fight shy of commitments to back ally Israel's war with the rogue terror state. Trump gives Iran two-week ultimatum before attack but Israel 'won't wait long' before bombing Fordow nuclear plant RAF Typhoon jets have been moved to a UK base in Cyprus but the PM and his Foreign Secretary David Lammy have sought to focus squarely on pleas for de-escalation. Sir Keir yesterday again urged all parties to back off as Britain prepared to enter crisis talks in Geneva with Iran. He said: 'The continuation of the current situation is in no-one's interest. We want to see cool heads and a return to diplomacy because that is the best route forward.' The UK has sanctioned two far-Right Israeli ministers over 'incitements of violence against Palestinian communities' in the occupied West Bank. Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich will be banned from entering the UK and will have any assets in the UK frozen. Mr Herzog spoke of his respect for British values as he poured out his frustration yesterday. The nation's figurehead, a political opponent of strongman PM Benjamin Netanyahu, let rip during a 20-minute defence of Israel's 'existential' war with Iran. And he spoke of his enduring pride in his father, late Israeli president Chaim Herzog, who was an officer in the British Army and battled the Nazis in World War II. He said: 'My father, you know, he was really a war hero in World War Two. 5 Israel's President warned Iran's missiles of mass destruction could one day be trained on the UK 5 Israel President Isaac Herzog spoke of his respect for British values as he poured out his frustration Credit: Doug Seeburg 'He was very proud of the fact that he served in the British Army. He saw the worst of atrocities when he fought the Nazis and liberated the concentration camps. And we always believed, and I always believed, in the uniqueness of the British parliamentary system.' Mr Herzog went on to warn Britain that Iran must be stopped, and that Israel was at a now or never moment when there had never been a better time to end the terror from Iran and its proxies such as Hezbollah and the Houthis. He told The Sun: 'Ask yourself, why would a small tribe of 50,000 Yemenite Houthis receive ballistic missiles and cruise missiles? Ballistic missiles is something only empires have. It's all planned and arranged by Iran. It's a war machine planned against us. 'But, truly, the next ones in line are the Europeans and the 'infidels' as they call them. 'So let's not delude ourselves and let's all join together in identifying the national security risks of all these nations who have to stand up to Iran and say, 'No more'. 'Enough with your terror cells, enough with your jihadist cells, enough with your proxies and enough with your nuclear programme. 'We are defending Europe' 'It's now or never. Iran went on procrastinating for decades and decades and there were all sorts of windows of opportunity. 'Each time they told us, 'OK, let's give it a chance . . . let's have an agreement. Let them do X or Y'. 'But underneath, they had covert operations of lying. Their covert operation threatens Middle East stability and world stability. That's what people don't get. 'They love to criticise Israel automatically. But we are defending the West. We are defending Europe.' Mr Herzog saluted German Chancellor Friedrich Merz for his recent show of support as he urged Sir Keir Starmer to follow suit. And he called on the people of Iran to rise up against terror stoking Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khameini in his nation's strongest call yet for regime change. He told The Sun: 'The chancellor of Germany said it beautifully. 'He said Israel is doing the dirty work for us. It's true. 'We are here at the frontier of a clash of civilisational values vis-à-vis jihadists. That's what we are dealing with. The world, for 80 years, has made clear that nuclear capabilities are the most dangerous thing if they are linked with an extreme, cruel, jihadist ideology. Isaac Herzog 'I trust President Trump. I think he sees it lucidly. I don't want to go into bombastic declarations but I think that he sees things correctly and my message to the people of Iran is very clear, 'We do not seek war but this war is your opportunity to uprise and bring change in your country. Totally uprise and change direction'. 'It's not one of our main plans or aims, but it is a major, major side-effect of our campaign. Our prime minister and our executive branch, they're taking care of it.' Referring to Ali Khameini, he said: 'It is clear that the leader of this war machine of terror, of atrocities, he himself is in charge of everything. 'He's taking billions of dollars off his own people from their food to spend on this terrible machine of cruelty. The world has to stand up to him once and for all.' Mr Herzog said he trusted Donald Trump to end Iran's reign of terror across the Middle East but said Israel's military had the power and the guile to win the war solo. Asked if his military could go it alone, he told The Sun: 'Israel can. It has many capabilities. We haven't shown everything yet. 'And we are very cautious in commenting about President Trump's considerations or decision-making process. We respect him immensely and we leave it up to him to take the historic decision. 'What we're doing is strictly in line with national security interests of all these major countries — all the G7 countries. 'We are showing our ingenuity and capabilities. We have a lot in stock. I don't want to brag about it. 'I met pilots yesterday who flew 2,300 kilometres and destroyed armaments that were aimed at us. 'And now they hit the Arak nuclear plantation and other places. That's a huge achievement. 'The world, for 80 years, has made clear that nuclear capabilities are the most dangerous thing if they are linked with an extreme, cruel, jihadist ideology.' The president said he hoped for an historic change, possibly within the next seven days, as Israel's vast military operation continued. He said: 'I sincerely hope that there will be a different balance that will block Iran, make clear that they cannot go on with that nasty, terrible game of theirs all over the world and in the region. 'They cannot threaten Israel's existence and move to the bomb — it's clear — and that is our aim.'
