EuroMillions winner's son stages pitch invasion in pick-up truck
Castleconnell soccer pitch in Co Limerick, with Gary McNamara's new house in the background
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The eldest son of a €115m EuroMillions winner sent teenage soccer players running for cover when he drove onto a pitch in a pick-up truck during an under-age game.
Gary McNamara, son of Dolores McNamara, said he drove onto the pitch and stopped the game to protest at members of two soccer clubs who had parked and blocked the entrance to a site where he is constructing a new home adjacent to the playing field.
The incident took place at Lisnagry soccer club near Castleconnell in east Limerick on Sunday afternoon while an U17 soccer match between Lisnagry and Hyde Rangers was in progress.
Up to 50 spectators, including horrified parents, watched as Mr McNamara's pick-up truck drove onto the soccer pitch just after 3pm.
"Everyone had to run for cover," one eyewitness said. "It was very scary. He was roaring and shouting. He spun around on the pitch and did a fair bit of damage to the pitch."
The antics came to a halt when Mr McNamara's pick-up truck stopped in the centre circle. "The referee spoke to him and told him to get it off the field."
Mr McNamara then drove off the pitch allowing the game to resume after an eight minute stoppage while spectators moved their vehicles away from the site entrance.
Gardai were contacted about the incident and investigations were continuing yesterday.
Mr McNamara (28), who lives in Castleconnell, is constructing a lavish home alongside Lisnagry soccer club. His mother won €115m in the EuroMillions in 2005 and purchased his €350,000 home.
"Jealousy must be an awful thing. They must be jealous of me over building a big house when they're at home starving," he said.
He claimed that he drove onto the pitch to send a message to people who parked in front of the building site.
"They won't allow me to get on with my work, so I won't allow them to get on with theirs. If it's alright for them to invade my space, then it's alright for me to invade theirs.
"What's there to say I can't park there? I said to them, 'I can't see no No Parking sign on this pitch'," Mr McNamara said.
Mr McNamara said he had asked officials connected to Lisnagry soccer club "on numerous occasions" not to park in front of the entrance.
- Barry Duggan
