Belfast Crown Court prepares to hear murder trial of Stephen McCullagh over the killing of pregnant marketing executive Natalie McNally in Lurgan County Armagh

Four years after the shocking death of Natalie McNally, the court process many have been waiting on is finally set to move forward.

Proceedings are expected to begin later in the trial of the man accused of murdering the 32-year-old in County Armagh.

McNally’s death in December 2022 sent waves through Lurgan and far beyond.

The case has remained one of the most talked-about killings in Northern Ireland in recent years — not just because of the brutality involved, but because she was 15 weeks pregnant at the time.

Who Was Natalie McNally?

Natalie McNally was known locally as a warm, ambitious young woman working in marketing.

Friends described her as vibrant and driven, someone who had built a career she was proud of.

On December 18, 2022, she was found dead at her home in Lurgan, County Armagh.

The news quickly dominated headlines and led to widespread public grief.

Vigils were held, and tributes poured in both online and in person.

The fact that she had been expecting a child made the tragedy even more devastating for her family and community.

The Accused and the Charge

The man standing trial is Stephen McCullagh, 35, from Woodland Gardens in Lisburn. He has denied the charge of murdering McNally.

The case is being heard at Belfast Crown Court, where jury selection is expected to take place on Monday.

As with all serious criminal trials in Northern Ireland, the process will involve detailed examination of forensic evidence, witness testimony and legal arguments presented by both prosecution and defence teams.

Delays Loomed Over the Trial

There had been genuine concern that the case might face yet another setback.

Criminal barristers in Northern Ireland have been engaged in long-running industrial action over legal aid fees.

The dispute, led by the Criminal Bar Association, has already disrupted a number of Crown Court cases.

Because many defendants rely on legal aid, the strike action effectively stalled multiple trials.

McNally’s family feared this case could be caught up in that wider dispute, prolonging what has already been a painful wait for answers.

An Exemption Granted

In a significant development, the Criminal Bar Association agreed to exempt this particular trial from the ongoing strike action.

That decision cleared the way for proceedings to begin as planned.

During a preliminary hearing in January, Mr Justice Patrick Kinney expressed his appreciation to barristers for making the case an exception.

His comments underlined how sensitive and significant the trial is, not just for those directly involved but for the wider public interest.

The Wider Context

Natalie McNally’s killing became part of a broader conversation about violence against women in Northern Ireland.

In recent years, several high-profile cases have intensified scrutiny of how such crimes are investigated and prosecuted.

Community groups and campaigners have repeatedly called for stronger protections and more urgent action to tackle domestic and gender-based violence.

Her death also came at a time when the justice system in Northern Ireland was already under strain, facing backlogs worsened by the pandemic and ongoing funding disputes.

The barristers’ strike has been another layer in an already complex system.

What’s Next?

Jury selection at Belfast Crown Court is the immediate next step.

Once a jury is sworn in, the prosecution is expected to open its case, outlining the evidence they say links McCullagh to McNally’s death.

The defence will then have the opportunity to challenge that evidence and present its own arguments.

Depending on the complexity of the case and the volume of evidence, the trial could run for several weeks.

As with any criminal trial, the burden of proof rests on the prosecution to establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

For McNally’s family, the coming weeks are likely to be emotionally exhausting.

For the accused, the trial represents a chance to contest the allegations formally before a jury.

Summary

Proceedings are set to begin in the trial of Stephen McCullagh, who denies murdering 32-year-old Natalie McNally at her home in Lurgan in December 2022.

McNally, who was 15 weeks pregnant, was killed four years ago in a case that deeply affected the local community.

Jury selection is due to take place at Belfast Crown Court.

Although ongoing strike action by criminal barristers had threatened further delays, the Criminal Bar Association agreed to exempt the case.

Mr Justice Patrick Kinney thanked barristers for allowing the trial to proceed, paving the way for the long-awaited court process to begin.