Murder accused was 'inconsolable' the night Natalie McNally was killed, friend says

A friend of Stephen McCullagh has told Belfast Crown Court about the moment he phoned her to tell her Natalie McNally had been killed.

McCullagh, 36, from Woodland Gardens in Lisburn, County Antrim, has denied murdering Natalie who was killed in her Silverwood Green home in Lurgan on 18 December.

Natalie was 15 weeks pregnant when she died.

Anne McCullough said McCullagh was "really upset" and "screaming - she's gone, she's gone, Natalie's gone".

She said at this point she "honestly thought she'd left him".

However a police officer took the phone and told her the 32-year-old had died.

"He was so loud. He was howling, crying and screaming," Ms McCullough said:

"I was trying to get him to calm down."

She said he was "inconsolable".

Ms McCullough told Belfast Crown Court she and the defendant had known each other since they were 18 and were in college together studying film-making.

"We were really good friends. Best friends," she said.

Ms McCullough told the court that McCullagh was "overjoyed and so excited" about having a baby.

"He was learning to cook. Reading up on parenting," she said.

"Reading up about diabetes. He seemed to be prepping to become dad."

Natalie was diabetic.

Prosecution barrister Charles MacCreanor KC asked Ms McCullough to describe McCullagh and Natalie's relationship.

Ms McCullough said they were "very lovely, very positive".

"It was the happiest I'd ever seen him," she said.

She told the court that she thought Natalie "was fantastic" and that she "challenged" McCullagh.

Ms McCullough told the court she drove to Natalie's home on the night she was killed to support McCullagh.

As she was travelling to Lurgan she said she got another phone call from her friend.

"He was much calmer. He was zoned out. I would say he disassociated," she said.

She said he "started talking about how she was gone. He said when I got there I couldn't hug him or touch him. He said his clothes were evidence."

"He said 'there's blood on my clothes'."

She said she was "in shock", saying: "My friend and her baby were dead."

Ms McCullough told the court that she had considered Natalie to be "a friend" and that she had bought her a Christmas present.

When McCullagh was arrested on the evening of 19 December, Ms McCullough told the court she was "worried about him" and his "mental health".

She told the court once he was released she went to visit him at his home in Lisburn.

She said he "went into detail" about how he "found Natalie".

"He said he saw her feet first. He found her lying face down in a dog bowl," she said.

He said the house was in a state and that there looked to have been some kind of argument."

She said "something" had happened to the Christmas tree and there was "blood in places".

"He had turned her over and stuff was coming out of her mouth. She was cold," Ms McCullough told the court.

She said she was "upset" to hear this information and "it was a lot to process".

"I thought I was being a good friend. I didn't want to hear this. I have had nightmares since," she said.

"I didn't think he had anybody else to talk to. I took it on the chin and then had nightmares about it."

McCullagh was arrested for the second time in January 2023 and Ms McCullough told the court that she had seen a news alert to say "a man had been re-arrested".

"I was excited that they had found the guy that killed my friend. I called Stephen and got no answer. I thought it was weird," she said.

"Then I realised he was the person re-arrested.

"I never considered for a second there was a reason why.

"He had his alibi to show he couldn't have done it."

The court has previously heard there was "extensive evidence" that a purported gaming live stream conducted by McCullagh, and then presented as an alibi, was pre-recorded days earlier.

Ms McCullough told the court McCullagh had told her on 17 December he would be "going live" the following night.

"I can't understand why he wouldn't have told me it was pre-recorded. I've no idea why he would lie to me," Ms McCullough said.

Ms McCullough told the court if she "said anything" that McCullagh "didn't like" or "disagreed" with, he would have "given her the cold shoulder".

She said he would "go quiet after a disagreement".

"I always feel like I was being punished," she said.

Defence barrister John Kearney KC asked Ms McCullough: "Did you know he often spent time on Christmas Day alone in sad reflection, struggling about his parents?"

McCullagh's parents had died.

"No, he would tell me he spent time with his cousin and her child. He was sad but he had a good time," Ms McCullough replied.

She was asked about CCTV footage of a person of interest outside Natalie's home the night of her death.

"If I am honest, the image, all I could see is a blob. I couldn't describe what the person was wearing," Ms McCullough said.

"You would agree, you never saw him wearing a big coat," Kearney asked Ms McCullough.

She replied: "He did have a big coat".

She told the court "Natalie was keen on thrifting and Stephen had bought a big coat in a charity shop".

She told the court Natalie was "absolutely lovely".

"I struggle socially and she was very easy to talk to.

"It seemed everything was going well and he was super happy," Ms McCullough said.

Kearney asked: "Would it be fair to suggest he was ecstatic about the baby?"

Ms McCullough replied: "Yes."