Natalie McNally Murder: YouTuber Found Guilty of Killing Pregnant Woman
Stephen McCullagh was sentenced to life imprisonment on Monday for the murder of Natalie McNally, a 32-year-classic woman who was 15 weeks pregnant with his child when she was killed in her Lurgan home in December 2022. The Belfast Crown Court found McCullagh guilty after a trial lasting over five weeks, with the jury reaching a unanimous verdict in just over two hours of deliberation.
The prosecution presented evidence that the murder was “planned, calculated, premeditated” and that McCullagh attempted to conceal his involvement through an elaborate false alibi. He initially claimed to have been live-streaming a gaming session on YouTube at the time of the murder, but this was revealed to be a pre-recorded video. The deception led police to initially rule him out as a suspect.
McCullagh, 36, of Woodland Gardens in Lisburn, had pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder. He maintained his innocence throughout the trial, alleging that an ex-boyfriend was responsible for McNally’s death. However, the prosecution argued that “flirty” messages found on McNally’s phone may have enraged McCullagh, giving him a motive for the crime.
Natalie McNally was found dead in her home on Silverwood Green in Lurgan on December 18, 2022. A post-mortem examination revealed she had suffered a “horrendous and savage beating,” with multiple stab wounds, facial fractures, and broken bones in her neck. The pathologist, James Lyness, detailed dozens of injuries to her head, face, neck, mouth, hands, arms, and lower body, indicating a “prolonged assault.” It was also determined that the foetus she carried likely died as a result of the attack.
The couple met on the dating app Bumble in August 2022, and their relationship lasted 133 days. McCullagh spent the night before the murder at his home with McNally, watching television. Unbeknownst to McNally, he was simultaneously researching bus and train schedules to travel to Lurgan. CCTV footage showed a person matching McCullagh’s description travelling to and from Lurgan on the day of the murder, and footage from a doorbell camera showed him waving goodbye to McNally earlier that day.
Following McNally’s death, McCullagh attended her wake, where he was welcomed by her parents. He reportedly showed Natalie’s mother, Bernadette McNally, an engagement ring and an image depicting what their unborn son, Dean, might have looked like. Family members described McCullagh as appearing distraught and actively seeking media coverage of the case, expressing concern that the story was “dropping down” in news prominence.
Police initially believed McCullagh’s alibi, but cyber-experts discovered the deception in late January 2023, leading to his re-arrest. During a 10-minute 999 call made shortly after discovering McNally’s body, McCullagh sobbed as he requested paramedics, stating she was pregnant, cold, and bleeding. The call was played during the trial, prompting a reaction from McNally’s family, particularly when her dog, River, was heard barking in the background.
The prosecution presented evidence that McCullagh beat, strangled, and stabbed McNally before fabricating the alibi and falsely reporting the discovery of her body. He continued to message McNally after her death, expressing his love and concern for her lack of response. A tariff hearing will be held on May 15 to determine the minimum term McCullagh must serve before being eligible for parole.