A man found guilty of murdering his pregnant partner is due to learn his sentence later today following a high-profile case that shocked communities across Northern Ireland.
Jury Found Defendant Guilty of Murder
Earlier this year, a jury at Belfast Crown Court convicted Stephen McCullagh, 36, of murdering his partner, Natalie McNally.
McCullagh, who lived in Lisburn, denied responsibility for the killing throughout the trial.
McNally, 32, was 15 weeks pregnant when she was fatally attacked in her home in the town of Lurgan in December 2022.
The brutal nature of the killing drew widespread public attention and prompted an extensive police investigation.
Prosecution Challenged Gaming Alibi
During the trial, McCullagh maintained that he could not have carried out the attack because he was allegedly streaming himself playing computer games on his YouTube channel at the relevant time.
However, investigators presented evidence showing that the six-hour gaming broadcast had not been recorded live.
Digital forensic experts determined that the footage had actually been created four days before the murder and then aired as though it were taking place in real time on December 18, undermining the defendant’s account.
Court Heard Details of Probation Assessment
At a sentencing hearing held in May, the court was told that McCullagh had made a series of inconsistent remarks during interviews with a probation officer.
According to evidence presented before the court, he initially continued to insist that he believed he was innocent of the murder despite the jury’s verdict.
The probation officer described several of his statements as contradictory and difficult to reconcile.
The court also heard that McCullagh referred to the killing as both “evil” and “vicious.”
In further comments, he reportedly described himself as “a monster” and expressed remorse for the impact of his actions.
Among the statements relayed to the court were apologies directed toward McNally’s relatives, with McCullagh saying he was sorry for what he had done to both Natalie and her family.
He also reportedly stated that he would reverse what had happened if that were possible.
Judge Expected to Announce Sentence
The case is now reaching its final stage as Mr Justice Kinney prepares to deliver the sentencing tariff.
The judge is expected to set the minimum period McCullagh must serve before becoming eligible for parole, bringing a significant chapter of the lengthy legal proceedings to a close.
