A 69 year-old woman has been banned from spending her £1 million bingo win.

Jean McCullagh scooped the jackpot at the Mecca Club in Parkhead, Glasgow last week.

Her two sisters-in-law who went to the club with Jean, Rose McCullagh, 57, and Jessie McCullagh, 63, have fought for a share of the winnings which Jean wants to keep to herself and the row has now ended up in court.

At the Court of Session in Edinburgh, Lord Brodie granted an interim interdict to Rose and Jessie.  This has prohibited Jean from spending the cash without first paying £250,000 to each of the others.

The three women are all aunts of Big Brother 3 contestant Federico Martone.  They went to the Mecca Club together with 65 year-old Margaret Cleugh, who is Rose’s sister.  The Mecca Club in Parkhead is also the scene of Britain’s first £1 million bingo winner only last month.

The women paid £19 each for a set of bingo cards.  Rose and Jessie stated in court that they decided that should any of them win the Mecca Millionare game, then the money would be split equally between them.

However, the weekend after her win, Jean apparently went back on this agreement by saying, “We didn’t agree anything in writing, so it’s not binding.  This money will set my daughters up for life.”

Rose and Jessie consulted lawyers and a leading QC, Paul Cullen was instructed to apply for an interim interdict before Jean had time to spend her money.

The judge was told that Jean had agreed to share the money shortly after she had called “house” but went back on her word a couple of days later.

Mr Cullen argued that the deal was, “an enforceable agreement.”  He also said Rose and Jessie were worried that Jean would spend the £500,000 to which they are entitled to.

He also said that Rose and Jessie had tried to contact Jean but had been unable to.

The judge Lord Brodie granted an interim interdict to Rose and Jessie, which bans Jean from, “transferring, spending or gifting the money without first paying £250,000 to each of the pursuers.”

Jean McCullagh may seek to overturn the decision but so far no further hearing date has been fixed.

If the McCullagh’s don’t settle their differences, a judgement from a previous similar case could feature largely.
10 years ago, neighbours Lorna Anderson and Isobel Robertson, went for a game of bingo in Drumchapel, Glasgow.  Lorna Anderson was successful in winning a jackpot of £108,000.

Just as in the McCullagh’s case they had agreed to split the winnings beforehand but Mrs Anderson wanted to keep all the money after her win.

The courts ruled that Mrs Anderson should pay Mrs Robertson £54,000, a decision which was upheld on appeal.

In Mrs Anderson’s defence, her lawyer stated that the agreement was simply social conversation.

However, the appeal judge Lord Reed said, “Each of them played the game for their joint benefit in the event of a win, thereby doubling the opportunity for each of them.”

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