Barbara Heavey from Cork said she wasn't interested in toys and, if she did attend the show, would probably 'set off the smoke alarms by chain-smoking in the toilets'.

She also stressed that she found it 'ridiculous' and 'absolutely crazy' that her decision to turn down two tickets for 'The Late Late Toy Show' after winning a viewers' prize should have provoked such a national storm of controversy.

'Late Late' host Pat Kenny confirmed that he had been flooded with messages from people upset at Barbara's reaction to winning the sought-after prize.

The top broadcaster said the overwhelming majority of the messages were critical of Barbara's handling of the prize and the show tickets.

But Barbara was unrepentant over her decision. 'I did say that they should be put up for a raffle -- so I have actually done someone a favour,' she said.

But the Cork woman whose children are all grown does intend to avail of the other aspects of the viewer prize. They include a weekend stay at a penthouse in a five-star Dublin hotel, €5,000 in shopping vouchers and €5,000 in cash.

Barbara confirmed that she would be travelling to Dublin on Friday with her 87-year old mother as her guest.

She acknowledged that it was awkward that €5,000 of the prize was in the form of shopping vouchers which can apparently only be spent in Dublin.

Yesterday a woman whose child was treated at Crumlin Children's Hospital bid €1,500 for the tickets which will be donated to the hospital.

Editor: Words fail me............... and that doesn't often happen!

&nbs