Natalie was our greatest joy, says family after murder verdict

Stephen McCullagh has been found guilty of murdering Natalie McNally in her Lurgan home in December 2022.

McCullagh, 36, of Woodland Gardens in Lisburn, had denied murdering his pregnant partner, but it took a jury just over two hours of deliberation to deliver a guilty verdict.

Cheers erupted at Belfast Crown Court when the verdict was read out.

Speaking outside the court, Natalie's brother Declan said his sister was an inspirational person and "having you in our lives was the greatest joy we'll ever have".

He added: "You would have been an amazing mother to baby Dean.

"We'll love you for ever and we hope you can now rest easy."

He said violence against women and girls was "the shame of our society".

"Our hope is that all the victims and their families get their day in court and the justice that they deserve," he added.

Natalie was 32 years old when she was beaten, strangled and stabbed in her home.

After a trial lasting more than four weeks, the jury was sent out on Monday morning. They returned to the courtroom at one stage to rewatch CCTV footage.

In the public gallery after the verdict was delivered, there were tears and hugs as the McNally family, who have been ever present during this trial saw their daughter's killer convicted.

When the verdict was delivered McCullagh could be seen slowly nodding his head.

Addressing him, the trial judge, Mr Justice Kinney, said the offence comes with a life sentence.

After the court session rose, there were also cheers from the public gallery for the detectives and police who worked to bring McCullagh to justice.

A tariff hearing will be held on 15 May.

The judge commended the McNally family for the dignity they have shown throughout this lengthy process.

He thanked the jury for their service in light of the traumatic and distressing evidence they had sat through.

As he told them they would never have to sit on another jury again, the McNally family applauded them from the public gallery.

Outside the courtroom the hugs and cheers continued with the family thanking the police and prosecutors who brought McCullagh to justice.

It was the prosecution case that, although McCullagh has never explained his actions, it is likely that his motivation for the murder was reading messages sent by Natalie to other men in the weeks before her death.

Some of these messages were sexually explicit in nature whilst others discussed potentially breaking up with McCullagh.

It was confirmed that McCullagh had the PIN for Natalie's phone.

An online content creator, much of the case centred on McCullagh's production of a pre-recorded six-hour online gaming stream which he outputted on YouTube on the night of Natalie's murder.

He presented this as live and continue to do so for 44 days and eight police interviews at which point police proved it had been pre-recorded.

The prosecution said the recording gave McCullagh time to travel to Lurgan on foot and by bus to Natalie's home.

After his brutal attack he changed clothes and, although it is thought he had intended to catch a train home he missed it, instead taking someone else's taxi to his front door.

He travelled to Lurgan the following evening to 'discover' her body and make an emotional 999 call.

He also pointed the finger at Natalie's former partner.

That man was arrested, interviewed and extensively cross-examined at McCullagh's trial.

During the investigation police secured, seized and studied thousands of hours of CCTV footage which they say charted McCullagh's journey to and from the crime scene.

In a post on X, First Minister Michelle O'Neill said Natalie "was a beautiful and talented young woman" who was "taken in the most monstrous and grotesque way".

"I send my love and support to her parents Bernie and Noel, and to all Natalie's family and friends," she said.

"Through unimaginable circumstances, they have become powerful advocates for ending violence against women and girls.

"No family should ever go through what the McNally's have. We must do all we can to end violence against women and girls."

Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said Natalie "was a much loved and cherished woman".

"Thinking of the McNally family today, as justice is served on the person who so violently took Natalie's life," she wrote on X.

"They have been so incredibly resilient and brave, including in the work they have done to oppose violence against women and girls across Northern Ireland.

"Most of all, thinking about Natalie and the life she never got to live, and that of her wee unborn baby. Just utterly heartbreaking."